Aortic Arch Mycotic Aneurysm Due to Scedosporium Apiospermum Reconstructed With Homografts

Ann Thorac Surg. 2015 Jun;99(6):2218-20. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.08.067.

Abstract

A 39-year-old female, active parenteral drug user was diagnosed of spondylodiscitis. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed an extensive aortic arch aneurysm. A positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scan, showing significant aortic wall uptake of the tracer through the whole aortic arch and the D8-D9 intervertebral disc, allowed us to suspect an aortitis despite negative blood cultures. The aneurysm was resected and reconstructed with 2 aortic homografts. Cultures of specimens from the aortic wall were positive to the fungi Scedosporium apiospermum. A new PET-CT scan 4 months after surgery showed absence of tracer uptake both at the homografts site and intervertebral disc.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Allografts
  • Aneurysm, Infected / diagnosis
  • Aneurysm, Infected / etiology*
  • Aneurysm, Infected / surgery
  • Aorta, Thoracic / diagnostic imaging
  • Aorta, Thoracic / microbiology*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / diagnosis
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / etiology*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / surgery
  • Aortography
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mycoses / diagnosis
  • Mycoses / etiology*
  • Mycoses / surgery
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Scedosporium / isolation & purification*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed