Chronic Contained Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture Mimicking Vertebral Spondylodiscitis: A Case Report

Extravertebral low back pain: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons for consultation in general practice. Currently, LBP is categorised into specific and non-specific causes. However, extravertebral causes, such as abdominal aortic aneurysm or pancreatitis, are not being considered.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed across MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane library, complemented by a handsearch. Studies conducted between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2020, where LBP was the main symptom, were included.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 6040 studies, from which duplicates were removed, leaving 4105 studies for title and abstract screening. Subsequently, 265 publications were selected for inclusion, with an additional 197 publications identified through the handsearch. The majority of the studies were case reports and case series, predominantly originating from specialised care settings. A clear distinction between vertebral or rare causes of LBP was not always possible. A range of diseases were identified as potential extravertebral causes of LBP, encompassing gynaecological, urological, vascular, systemic, and gastrointestinal diseases. Notably, guidelines exhibited inconsistencies in addressing extravertebral causes.

DISCUSSION

Prior to this review, there has been no systematic investigation into extravertebral causes of LBP. Although these causes are rare, the absence of robust and reliable epidemiological data hinders a comprehensive understanding, as well as the lack of standardised protocols, which contributes to a lack of accurate description of indicative symptoms. While there are certain disease-specific characteristics, such as non-mechanical or cyclical LBP, and atypical accompanying symptoms like fever, abdominal pain, or leg swelling, that may suggest extravertebral causes, it is important to recognise that these features are not universally present in every patient.

CONCLUSION

The differential diagnosis of extravertebral LBP is extensive with relatively low prevalence rates dependent on the clinical setting. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for extravertebral aetiologies, especially in patients presenting with atypical accompanying symptoms.

Chronic contained ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm with a rare presentation of lower limb neuropathic claudication: a report of two cases

A vertebral body erosion that takes place due to a chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is an especially rare vascular pathology that comprises less than 5% of all causes of vertebral body erosion. Chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysms are primarily observed in hemodynamically stable patients whose chief complaint is lower limb neuropathic pain. This entity is extremely misleading and this results in delayed management of those patients increasing the morbidity and mortality rates.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the two cases of 62-year-old and 65-year-old males. Preoperative radiology for each patient showed an infrarenal aortic aneurysm with a retroperitoneal hematoma in contact with the lumbar vertebral bodies and psoas muscle. The draped aorta sign was evident in both cases.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

A curative surgical intervention was accomplished for both patients, respectively. This was achieved through the removal of the existing hematomas that were compressing the vertebrae in addition to the complete isolation and resection of the respective abdominal aortic aneurysms along with thorough reconstruction of the aortoiliac spindles with patent synthetic grafts to ensure the patency of the preexisting vascular axis.

CONCLUSION

A contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is a rare occurring vascular pathology that manifests with nonspecific symptoms, such as femoral neuropathy and lower back pain proportionate to the degree of the level of erosion of the affected lumbar vertebrae. This will increase the possibility of misdiagnosis and delays in treatment. Such a life-threatening vascular emergency should be timely detected and treated to avoid its complications and patient mortality.

Lumbar Spondylodiscitis Mimicking Cholecystitis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

BACKGROUND

 Lower back pain is a frequent cause of emergency department visits and one of the leading causes of the disease burden worldwide. The purpose of this case report and literature review was to discuss atypical abdominal entities mimicking spinal diseases typically presenting with lower back pain.

METHODS

 A 79-year-old man presented with lower back pain and urinary incontinence after receiving a non-image-guided lumbar infiltration treatment 4 weeks prior to admission. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) highlighted multisegmental hyperintensities in the intervertebral disk spaces of the lumbar spine indicative for spondylodiscitis. Antibiotic treatment over a week did not lead to significant clinical improvement. Blood cultures, cardiologic, otorhinolaryngologic, and dental examinations turned out negative for a focus of infection. A computed tomography (CT) guided biopsy was indicated after discontinuation of antibiotic treatment for less than 24 hours. Rapid clinical deterioration with concomitant onset of abdominal pain resulted in the diagnosis of cholecystitis, which required cholecystectomy. We performed a systematic literature review using the Pubmed database for the keywords "spondylodiscitis," "spine," "abdominal," and "cholecystitis," to identify abdominal diseases that mimic spine pathologies and spinal diseases that mimic abdominal pathologies.

RESULTS

 No other report in English literature of cholecystitis associated with initial onset of lower back pain was identified. Eighteen reports referred to abdominal conditions that mimic spinal diseases, among them a patient with cyclic lumbar back pain who received a lumbar spinal fusion who, after persisting symptoms led to further diagnostic procedures, was ultimately diagnosed with endometriosis. Spinal symptoms included paraplegia and urinary incontinence as results of acute aortic pathologies. Eleven reports presented spinal pain mimicking abdominal conditions including abdominal pain and diarrhea as well as have had surgical procedures such as an appendectomy before the spinal condition was discovered.

CONCLUSION

 Clinical symptoms of the spine such as lower back pain can be unspecific and lead to false conclusions in the presence of concomitant pathologies in MRI. Only clinical deterioration in our case patient prompted correction of the diagnosis on day 7. Initial workup for alternative common infectious foci such as lung and urinary tract was performed, but further abdominal workup despite the absence of abdominal symptoms may have led to an earlier diagnosis. Our literature review found several cases of misdiagnosed spinal and abdominal conditions. Some had undergone unnecessary surgical procedures before the right diagnosis was made. Because of the high incidence of symptoms such as lumbar back pain and abdominal pain, considering optimal patient care as well as economic aspects, it would be essential to conduct an interdisciplinary clinical management to avoid errors in the early stage of diagnostics.

Vertebral body erosion by a chronic contained rupture of thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm: systematic review and spine surgical recommendations

BACKGROUND

Vertebral body erosion (VBE) is commonly caused by neoplastic, inflammatory or infectious diseases: it can be rarely associated with aortic wall disorders, such as contained rupture of aortic aneurysm (CCR-AA). CCR-AA is a rare event consisting of less than 5% of all reported cases. This condition is easily undiagnosed, differential diagnosis may be challenging, and there is no consensus or recommendation that dictates guidance on management of spinal surgical treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed a systematic review of literature of all cases of VBE secondary to CCR-AA to identify clinical, radiological, and surgical outcome characteristics with the aim of providing a basis for future research studies.

RESULTS

The search returned a total of 80 patients. All reported cases have a history of hypertension. In almost all cases the AA size reported was very high (mean diameter of 7.056 cm). The treatment of this condition involves various reported treatment strategies: a totally conservative approach, treatment of the aortic aneurysm through a minimally invasive endovascular procedure, or through open surgery and combined approach. Despite the wide variability in therapeutic strategy, the rate of good outcomes was 80%, relatively high.

CONCLUSIONS

''Back pain'' and pain along the vertebral column are such frequent complaints that unusual etiologies or serious and life threatening complications may be overlooked. In addition to the common traumatic and degenerative causes of back pain, AA must also be considered. A combined approach between vascular and spine surgery could be achieved without any increased risk.

Chronic Contained Rupture of the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Background

The most lethal complication of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is rupture (rAAA). A triad of abdominal or back pain, a pulsating mass in the abdomen, and decrease in blood pressure is mostly diagnostic. However, this presentation may not be complete due to either an impalpable aneurysm or atypical symptoms which leads to difficulties in diagnosis and delayed management. Chronic contained rupture of AAA (CCR-AAA) is a rare but well-recognized condition. Its diagnosis may be difficult because of the atypical and chronic nature of the symptoms. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence and to highlight the importance of this less common presentation of rAAA.

Methods

Patients who presented to King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH) with infra-renal AAAs (elective and emergency) from January 2014 to April 2021 were prospectively collected. Patients with CCR-AAA were identified and evaluated in terms of demographic data, associated comorbidities, presentation, treatments, and outcomes.

Results

A total number of 85 patients were admitted with an infra-renal AAA. Seventeen patients (20.0%) had rAAA, of them only 5 patients (29.4%) were diagnosed with CCR-AAA. CCR-AAAs represent 5.9% of cases with AAA. CCR-AAAs were all in men, with a mean age ± SD of 73.1±8.3. Two patients (40.0%) had abdominal pain, 2 patients (40.0%) had back pain and one patient (10.0%) had no symptoms at the time of diagnosis.

Conclusion

CCR-AAA represents 5.9% of all AAA and 29.4% of rAAA. To prevent this potentially fatal condition, awareness is required especially in old males with abdominal or back pain.

Lawsonella clevelandensis is a rare cause of infected chronic contained rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Lawsonella clevelandensis is an anaerobic, partially acid-fast, Gram-positive bacillus associated with abscess formation. We present the case of a 70-year-old male with chronic contained rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (CCR-AAA) complicated by intra-abdominal abscess formation. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a rim-enhancing retroperitoneal collection tracking into the subcutaneous layer of the left flank and buttock, suggestive of CCR-AAA with infected haematoma. He underwent ultrasound-guided needle aspiration of the intra-abdominal collection. Conventional culture techniques failed to isolate L. clevelandensis, and the diagnosis was only confirmed by means of 16S rRNA PCR. The patient underwent branched endovascular repair of his aneurysm, and was commenced on treatment with co-amoxiclav, resulting in significant reduction in the size of the infected collection. This is only the second reported case of infection with L. clevelandensis in the UK, and the first reported case of this organism causing infected CCR-AAA.

The Association of Spondylitis and Aortic Aneurysm Disease

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to assess any relation between spondylitis and aortic aneurysmal disease by reviewing the current literature.

METHODS

A systematic search was undertaken using MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases till May 2019, for articles reporting on patients suffering from spondylitis and aortic aneurysm.

RESULTS

The most involved aortic segment was infrarenal aorta (56.9%). The lumbar vertebrae were more frequently affected (79.7%). Commonest symptoms were back pain (79.1%), fever (33.7%) and lower limb pain (29.1%). 55.8% of cases were diagnosed using computed tomography. The pathology was attributed to infectious causes in 25.1% of cases. 53.4% of patients were treated only for the aneurysm, 27.9% for both pathologies, while two patients solely for the vertebral disease. Endovascular aneurysm repair was chosen in 12.8% of cases. The 30-day mortality was 8.1% (7/86); mostly from vascular complications.

CONCLUSIONS

A synchronous spondylitis and aortic aneurysm may share common etiopathology, when an infectious or inflammatory cause is presented. The lumbar vertebrae are more frequently affected. Low quality data do not allow safe conclusion to suggest the best treatment option.

Chronic contained rupture of abdominal aortic aneurism complicated with aortic occlusion: a case report

Background

Chronic contained rupture is a subtype of an abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture. Its diagnosis is sometimes difficult due to lack of typical symptoms. We would like to report the challenge of diagnosing chronic contained rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm with a retroperitoneal tumor.

Case presentation

A 60-year-old man reported perceived lower abdominal pain 7 months earlier that spontaneously remitted. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) indicated an abdominal aortic aneurysm and a mass lesion surrounding the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed an increased accumulation of FDG in the margin of the lesion, indicating a retroperitoneal tumor. A CT-guided biopsy revealed only retroperitoneal fibrous tissue with chronic inflammation. We were thus unable to reach a definitive diagnosis. At 1 month after the initial examination, intermittent claudication was newly observed. A follow-up contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed abdominal aortic occlusion. Mass resection and bypass surgery were performed for diagnosis and treatment. Intraoperative and pathological findings led to the diagnosis of chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient was discharged 19 days after surgery.

Conclusion

The mass peripheral to the abdominal aorta should be considered the possibility not only of tumor but also of chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Collateral miracle-reformation of iliac and femoral arteries by collaterals from bilateral subclavian arteries following contained rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a hypertensive female

Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is readily diagnosed when the triad of abdominal or back pain, shock and a pulsatile abdominal mass are present. However in a few cases, a chronic contained ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm can present in a multitude of manners rather than as life threatening haemorrhage. In our case we are reporting a 41 year old hypertensive female who developed claudication pain in both her lower limbs. Imaging later revealed that she had a contained ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, a thing she was previously unaware of, with collaterals from the bilateral subclavian arteries supplying her femorals.

Contained Rupture of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Extensive Vertebral Body and Retroperitoneal Space Destruction

Chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with vertebral body erosion most commonly presents with symptoms of low back pain. Although not well known, vertebral body erosion or destruction may be seen in up to 25% of patients with sealed or contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This appearance on cross-sectional imaging may mimic a malignant or infectious process. Although these cases can present a diagnostic challenge, published cases of chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with vertebral body erosion demonstrate clinical and imaging similarities that, when recognized, can assist in diagnosis.