Hemomediastinum due to spontaneous rupture of a mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm – A rare cause of thoracic pain

Hemomediastinum is a rare pathological event. Multiple underlying causes and contributory factors can be identified, such as trauma, malignancy, iatrogenic, bleeding disorder or mediastinal organ hemorrhage. Also, a mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm may be the source of a hemomediastinum. Hemopt...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: B.A.H. Vosse, A.F. van Belle, G.J. de Vries, M. Das
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2014-01-01
Series:Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213007114000173
Description
Summary:Hemomediastinum is a rare pathological event. Multiple underlying causes and contributory factors can be identified, such as trauma, malignancy, iatrogenic, bleeding disorder or mediastinal organ hemorrhage. Also, a mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm may be the source of a hemomediastinum. Hemoptysis is an important directive symptom, however occasionally, patients only present with thoracic pain or symptoms related to extrinsic compression of the airways or esophagus. Using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the chest, hemomediastinum can be adequately diagnosed, and the involved vascular structures can be revealed. In case of a (ruptured) bronchial artery aneurysm, transcatheter embolization provides a minimally invasive procedure and is treatment of first choice. In this case report, a 76-year-old female is presented with spontaneous rupture of a mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm resulting in hemomediastinum causing thoracic pain. Superselective embolization of the left bronchial artery was successfully performed.
ISSN:2213-0071