An Unusual Cause of a Pain in the Neck : Pseudoaneurysm from Tuberculous Lymphadenitis

Abstract EN

A pseudoaneurysm is a haematoma which is surrounded by connective tissue and communicates with the lumen of a ruptured blood vessel.

It has no true defined capsule.

We describe a case of tuberculous pseudoaneurysm.

This is a rare complication of tuberculosis.

The clinical presentation of these lesions is highly variable.

Definitive diagnosis should consist of contrast-enhanced CT and arteriography.

Treatment should include repair of the arterial wall by surgery, endovascular stent-graft insertion, or embolization followed by a full course of antituberculous chemotherapy.

Our case is highly unusual in that the pseudoaneurysm arose from the subclavian vasculature in a patient with extrapulmonary tuberculosis only.