Rasmussen aneurysm
Updates to Article Attributes
A Rasmussen aneurysm (not to be confused with Rasmussen encephalitis) is an uncommon complication of pulmonary tuberculosis and represents a pulmonary artery aneurysm adjacent or within a tuberculous cavity.
Epidemiology
It can be present in up to 5% of patients with chronic cavitaory tuberculosis on autopsy.
Clinical presentation
Haemoptysis is the usual presenting symptom and may be life-threatening when it is massive.
Pathology
It is caused by weakening of the pulmonary artery wall from adjacent cavitary tuberculosis. There is progressive weakening of the arterial wall as granulation tissue replaces both the adventitia and the media. This is then gradually replaced by fibrin, resulting in thinning of the arterial wall, pseudoaneurysm formation, and subsequent rupture with haemorrhage.
Location
Usually distributed peripherally and beyond the branchesof main pulmonary arteries 2.
Radiographic features
Contrast CT chest
Often seen as a focal dilatation of one of pulmonary segmental arteries adjacent to tuberculous parenchymal change or chronic tuberculous cavity.
EtymologyHistory and etymology
It is named after Fritz Valdemar Rasmussen: Danish physician ( 1837-1877).
Differential diagnosis
It is almost pathognomonic if present in the right clinical content and in the vicinity of a tuberculous cavity.
In atypical cases consider:
- vasculitides
- iatrogenic
:, e.g. injury from a Swan-Ganz catheter - mycotic aneurysm: especially if in intravenous drug users
-<p>A <strong>Rasmussen aneurysm</strong> (not to be confused with <a href="/articles/rasmussen-encephalitis">Rasmussen encephalitis</a>) is an uncommon complication of <a href="/articles/pulmonary-manifestations-of-tuberculosis">pulmonary tuberculosis</a> and represents a <a href="/articles/pulmonary-arterial-aneurysm">pulmonary artery aneurysm</a> adjacent or within a tuberculous cavity. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>It can be present in up to 5% of patients with chronic cavitaory tuberculosis on autopsy. </p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p><a title="Haemoptysis" href="/articles/hemoptysis">Haemoptysis</a> is the usual presenting symptom and may be life-threatening when it is massive. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It is caused by weakening of the pulmonary artery wall from adjacent cavitary tuberculosis. There is progressive weakening of the arterial wall as granulation tissue replaces both the adventitia and the media. This is then gradually replaced by fibrin, resulting in thinning of the arterial wall, pseudoaneurysm formation, and subsequent rupture with haemorrhage. </p><h5>Location</h5><p>Usually distributed peripherally and beyond the branchesof main pulmonary arteries <sup>2</sup></p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Contrast CT chest</h5><p>Often seen as a focal dilatation of one of pulmonary segmental arteries adjacent to tuberculous parenchymal change or chronic tuberculous cavity.</p><h4>Etymology</h4><p>It is named after <strong>Fritz Valdemar Rasmussen</strong> : Danish physician ( 1837-1877)</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>It is almost pathognomonic if present in the right clinical content and in the vicinity of a tuberculous cavity. </p><p>In atypical cases consider </p><ul>- +<p><strong>Rasmussen aneurysm</strong> (not to be confused with <a href="/articles/rasmussen-encephalitis">Rasmussen encephalitis</a>) is an uncommon complication of <a href="/articles/pulmonary-manifestations-of-tuberculosis">pulmonary tuberculosis</a> and represents a <a href="/articles/pulmonary-arterial-aneurysm">pulmonary artery aneurysm</a> adjacent or within a tuberculous cavity. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>It can be present in up to 5% of patients with chronic cavitaory tuberculosis on autopsy. </p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p><a href="/articles/haemoptysis-1">Haemoptysis</a> is the usual presenting symptom and may be life-threatening when it is massive. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It is caused by weakening of the pulmonary artery wall from adjacent cavitary tuberculosis. There is progressive weakening of the arterial wall as granulation tissue replaces both the adventitia and the media. This is then gradually replaced by fibrin, resulting in thinning of the arterial wall, pseudoaneurysm formation, and subsequent rupture with haemorrhage. </p><h5>Location</h5><p>Usually distributed peripherally and beyond the branchesof main pulmonary arteries <sup>2</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Contrast CT chest</h5><p>Often seen as a focal dilatation of one of pulmonary segmental arteries adjacent to tuberculous parenchymal change or chronic tuberculous cavity.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>It is named after <strong>Fritz Valdemar Rasmussen</strong>: Danish physician ( 1837-1877).</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>It is almost pathognomonic if present in the right clinical content and in the vicinity of a tuberculous cavity. </p><p>In atypical cases consider:</p><ul>
-<li>iatrogenic : e.g injury from a Swan-Ganz catheter</li>- +<li>iatrogenic, e.g. injury from a Swan-Ganz catheter</li>
-<a href="/articles/mycotic_aneurysm">mycotic aneurysm</a> : especially if in intravenous drug users</li>- +<a href="/articles/mycotic-aneurysm">mycotic aneurysm</a>: especially if in intravenous drug users</li>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.