Aneurysms complicating inflammatory diseases in immunocompromised hosts: value of contrast-enhanced CT

We studied the value of contrast-enhanced CT in the detection of aneurysms in immunocompromised patients suffering from inflammatory diseases eventually complicated by hemorrhage. Contrast-enhanced spiral CT was applied in three patients with immunocompromise due to chemotherapy, alcohol abuse or HIV. They suffered from invasive aspergillosis, chronic pancreatitis with pseudocyst formation, and acute pancreatitis together with HIV-associated lymphadenopathy. Complicating hemorrhage was present in two cases. Contrast-enhanced CT showed aneurysms complicating the underlying inflammatory disease in all three cases. The feeding vessels were identified and the patients with signs of bleeding were subsequently referred for angiography and embolization. Contrast-enhanced spiral CT is suited to detect aneurysms in immunocompromised patients suffering from inflammatory disease. It is recommended in these patients prior to angiography and intervention. (orig.). With 3 figs