AORTIC ANEURYSM: A RARE CAUSE OF ORTNER'S SYNDROME

A 60 year old male patient presented with hoarseness of voice lasting for 2 months. First he was examined by the otorhinolaryngologist of our hospital, who noticed absence of movements of the left vocal cord. Chest X-ray showed a large opacity in the left upper zone and the patient was referred to the pulmonologist. His general physical examination was unremarkable not having any stigmata of Marfan's or Ehler Danlos syndrome. On chest auscultation, a systolic flow murmur was audible and there was decreased breath sound in the left infraclavicular area. Bronchoscopy revealed absence of movement of left vocal cord. His trans-thoracic echocardiography revealed degenerative aortic and mitral valve disease with mild aortic regurgitation and mild mitral regurgitation with dilated aortic aneurysm. A contrast enhanced CT scan of thorax and CT Angio Aortogram revealed fusiform aneurysmal dilatation of the arch of aorta with diameter of 6.2 cm over a length of 12.3 cm showing intraluminal partial thrombus with wall calcification. The patient was advised to undergo surgery. However, after detailed discussion with him and his family, they decided for medical management in view of his advanced age.