OBJECTIVE: Extrapulmonary localization of tuberculosis accounts for about 15-20% of cases. Several cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with vascular involvement have been described, but only few cases for limb vessels.
CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 33-year-old man from Gambia with a symptomatic pseudoaneurysm of the right superficial femoral artery. Total body positron emission tomography/computed tomography with [18F]FDG revealed an active infection. The patient underwent vascular reconstruction with a straight reversed vein graft. Molecular testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was non-diagnostic. Cultures of the pseudoaneurysm wall and thrombus removed during surgery grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of vascular tuberculosis infection due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a challenge. Epidemiology remains the primary criterion for maintaining a high index of suspicion.
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R. Berchiolli, G. Bertagna, P.A. Erba, C. Caroselli, S. Fabiani, L.R. Suardi, M. Falcone, M. Ferrari, N. Troisi
A rare case of mycobacterial pseudoaneurysm of the superficial femoral artery
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci
Year: 2022
Vol. 26 - N. 14
Pages: 5250-5254
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202207_29315