Resection of an aneurysm of the arch of the aorta with preservation of the lumen of the vessel.

A case is reported of a 20 year old woman, without history, stigmata, or serologic evidence of syphilis, who presented a mediastinal mass just above and lateral to the arch of the aorta which was originally mistaken for tuberculous lymph nodes. The diagnosis of saccular aneurysm was made after direct puncture of this mass under pleuroscopy. Exploratory thoracotomy was performed and a saccular aneurysm of the terminal part of the arch of the aorta was found. The aneurysm was removed and the aorta sutured without interrupting the continuity of the artery or narrowing its lumen. The authors believe that this is the second successful resection of an aortic aneurysm and the first in which Resection was accomplished with preservation of the lumen of the aorta.