Intercostal Artery Aneurysmosis Secondary to Chronic Cocaine Abuse

Abstract

Intercostal artery aneurysms are rare entities usually seen in connective tissue disorders and inflammatory conditions and syndromes like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Kawasaki’s disease, and neurofibromatosis. Spontaneous development of intercostal aneurysm is rare and the presence of multiple aneurysms/aneurysmosis is exceedingly rare. Although there have been a few case reports on aortic aneurysm, coronary artery aneurysms and many on ruptured cerebral aneurysms, we could not find a single case of spontaneous intercostal artery aneurysm secondary to chronic cocaine abuse. We report an exceedingly rare case of intercostal artery aneurysmosis presumably secondary to long-term cocaine abuse. Intercostal artery aneurysm is the least common visceral aneurysm and given the very limited literature on this subject, the pathogenesis is poorly understood.

Ruptured mycotic aneurysm of intercostal arteries associated with vertebral osteomyelitis: a case report

“…Doppler ultrasonography and CT are the two most appropriate diagnostic modalities for evaluating intercostal artery pseudoaneurysms. Agarwal et al anticipate these to be more commonly reported in the future, given the increased recognition and advent of multidetector CT imaging, and CT could depict an intercostal aneurysm in the patient in this case report [ 12 ]. Appropriate diagnosis and prompt treatment of these rare vascular lesions are essential in preventing rupture.…”