Tuberculous aneurysm diagnosed by CT-Guided biopsy after stent graft replacement: A case report

J Infect Chemother. 2024 Dec;30(12):1315-1318. doi: 10.1016/j.jiac.2024.04.004. Epub 2024 Apr 6.

Abstract

A tuberculous aneurysm is an uncommon extrapulmonary tuberculosis and is usually fatal. The best way to treat it involves a combination of open surgery and medical treatment. However, it can be challenging to diagnose a tuberculous aneurysm. In this report, we describe a patient with a tuberculous aneurysm who was treated with stent-graft replacement and CT-guided biopsy for diagnosis, followed by nine months of anti-tuberculosis therapy. Despite one week of anti-tuberculous therapy, her fever persisted. A CT scan revealed new, well-defined nodules measuring 1-2mm in the lungs and hepatomegaly, indicating complications of miliary tuberculosis. After three weeks after the CT-guided biopsy, Mycobacterium tuberculosis grew from the arterial wall tissue, leading to the diagnosis of a tuberculous aneurysm complicated by miliary tuberculosis. The patient's aneurysm disappeared on follow-up CT scans, and the patient has been under observation for five years without a relapse. This rare case of tuberculous aneurysm can provide lessons for countries with a low prevalence of tuberculosis. This suggests the possibility of treatment with stent-graft replacement and anti-tuberculous medication and the usefulness of CT-guided biopsy for microbiological and pathological diagnosis.

Keywords: CT-Guided biopsy; Miliary tuberculosis; Stent-graft replacement; Tuberculous aneurysm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm, Infected / diagnosis
  • Aneurysm, Infected / microbiology
  • Aneurysm, Infected / surgery
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image-Guided Biopsy* / adverse effects
  • Image-Guided Biopsy* / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Stents* / adverse effects
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Tuberculosis, Cardiovascular / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Cardiovascular / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Cardiovascular / surgery
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / diagnosis

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents