Tuberculous esophagitis with erosion into aortic aneurysm

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1986 Oct;110(10):965-6.

Abstract

An 87-year-old woman with a known atherosclerotic thoracic aneurysm died suddenly from a massive esophageal hemorrhage. Prior to death, tuberculous esophagitis was diagnosed by biopsy. At autopsy, a fistulous tract was found extending from the esophagus to the aortic aneurysm; this fistula proved to be the site of fatal hemorrhage. The tract was surrounded by a granulomatous inflammatory reaction, in which acid-fast bacilli were found. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of tuberculous esophagitis extending to an aortic aneurysm resulting in hemorrhage and death.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aortic Aneurysm / etiology*
  • Aortic Diseases / etiology*
  • Aortic Diseases / pathology
  • Esophageal Fistula / etiology*
  • Esophageal Fistula / pathology
  • Esophagitis / complications*
  • Esophagitis / pathology
  • Female
  • Fistula / etiology*
  • Fistula / pathology
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Prognosis
  • Tuberculosis / complications*
  • Tuberculosis / pathology