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A case of a periaortic lymphoma presenting with the features of descending thoracic aorta dissection

¹Cardiothoracic and ²Radiology Departments, James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW, UK

Correspondence: Mr Simon W Kendall, Cardiothoracic Department, James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW, UK. E-mail: Simon.kendall{at}stees.nhs.uk

We report the case of a 68-year-old male in whom an intrathoracic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was diagnosed late after he presented with the clinical and radiological features of a descending aortic dissection due to penetrating ulcer. An endovascular stent was implanted in the descending aorta. At follow up, a CT scan showed the presence of a mediastinal mass thought to be a periaortic haematoma as a consequence of the endovascular stent implantation. A further CT scan showed an increase in size of the mediastinal mass encasing the whole descending aorta. A biopsy of the mass was performed which was shown to be non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is the first report of a penetrating ulcer of the descending aorta due to lymphoma, which probably caused the dissection.