Traumatic false aneurysm of descending aorta with aortoesophageal fistula.

We report a case of traumatically induced false aneurysm with secondary bacterial aortitis of the descending aorta and fistula formation between the aorta and esophagus. This lesion was diagnosed at autopsy and caused death in a 68-year-old female 19 years after an automobile accident. Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) formation as a result of any cause is rare. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of traumatic aortic aneurysm as a result of an automobile accident with subsequent AEF formation.