[Aortobronchopulmonary fistula following a pulmonary contained aortic rupture in patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm and severe aortic sclerosis].

Rupture of the thoracic aorta is usually widespread and fatal. Rupture limited by the lung and aorto-bronchopulmonary fistula are rare. We report two patients with a contained perforation of the thoracic aorta, who presented with haemoptysis. Chest radiographs demonstrated an aortic aneurysm and pulmonary haemorrhage in the first, while in the other perforation of an atherosclerotic aorta with a pulmonary haematoma was misinterpreted as bronchial carcinoma. In both cases contrast enhanced CT clearly demonstrated the abnormality in the aorta and the pulmonary haemorrhage. Since aortography often fails to demonstrate a perforation, CT or MRI should be performed early in patients with suspected rupture of the thoracic aorta.