Aortic rupture due to radiation injury successfully treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair

Abstract

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been reported to be an effective treatment option for aortic emergencies. However, there are few reports about TEVAR for aortic rupture due to radiation injury. A 54-year-old man presented with haemoptysis. He had a history of lung cancer, which had been treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy (72 Gy/16 times) 3 years previously, and the cancer lesion did not progress. On chest radiography, pneumonia was suspected in the radiated lesion. However, after admission, he presented with back pain, progressive anaemia and hypotension. Enhanced computed tomography revealed extravasation of contrast medium in the distal aortic arch. He was diagnosed with aortic rupture due to radiation injury. TEVAR was performed. He was extubated one day after the operation, and the haemoptysis disappeared. He was discharged from the hospital without any complications. He is well 1 year after the surgery, without aortic disease progression or lung cancer recurrence.