Brimont O, Meurisse C, Vilarem D, Manouvrier J, Peltier J M, Cuignet P
Service de Cardiologie, CHG de Valenciennes.
Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 1993 Mar;86(3):377-9.
The authors report the case of embolism by a false aneurysm of the internal mammary artery: a 57 years old woman with no previous medical history was admitted to the emergency unit with a kitchen knife stuck in the 3rd left intercostal space. After withdrawing the knife, in the operating theatre, radiological controls revealed a blurred opacity in the left antero-superior mediastinum. The patient signed her own discharge from hospital against medical advice on the 7th day. She was readmitted 10 months later for left retrosternal chest pains. Chest X ray demonstrated a rounded opacity in the antero-superior mediastinum. Computed tomography with injection of contrast confirmed the vascular nature of the opacity. Arteriography in the aortic arch confirmed the diagnosis of false aneurysm of the left internal mammary artery. Selective angiography of the internal mammary artery was undertaken and the aneurysm was embolised with coils. The clinical outcome was immediately improved with relief from the chest pains.
