Chronic contained rupture of an aortic aneurysm mimicking infective spondylitis

Abstract

Chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is rare. These aneurysms are small and affected patients are usually normotensive. The resultant pseudoaneurysmal sac may cause extensive vertebral erosion. Diagnosis is often delayed as the condition may present with symptoms referable to the lumbar spine. This report is of two cases where the initial diagnosis was infective spondylitis.