Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Formation Following Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy and Metallic Stent Insertion in a Patient with Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

Aortic pseudoaneurysm formation subsequent to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for esophageal cancer patient with esophageal metallic stent insertion is a rare condition. A 52-year-old man with esophageal cancer, cT4N1M0, stage IIIC, was treated with concurrent weekly cisplatin (30 mg/m2) and 5-Fluorouracil (500 mg/m2) as well as radiotherapy (50.4 Gy in 28 fractions) for 6 weeks. An esophageal metallic stent was inserted for dysphagia 1 week after initiation of CCRT. During the treatment regimen, the platelet count dropped to less than 200×103/μL. One month after the completion of CCRT, chest CT revealed the presence of an aortic pseudoaneurysm as well as aortoesophageal fistulas. A thoracic aortic endografting was performed and the patient responded well to surgery. However, the patient died 2 months later due to a nosocomial infection. Multimodality treatment for esophageal cancer comprising cisplatin- based CCRT and esophageal metallic stent placement near a great vessel may increase the risk of pseudoaneurysm formation.