Inflammatory aneurysms of the abdominal aorta: a five years experience.

During a five-year period, seven out of 85 patients undergoing surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm, were identified as having the inflammatory variant. The clinical data, management and follow-up are reported. Computed tomography is the preferred examination for the disclosure of the nature of the aneurysm. Aneurysmectomy with graft replacement is advocated as the treatment of choice and requires a specific technique. Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms are a clinical distinct entity but are considered as being a variant of the atherosclerotic abdominal aneurysm. The etiology has as yet not been clarified, even though various theories have been proposed.