Metastatic carcinoma of prostate masquerading as abdominal aortic aneurysm

A case is reported in which the patient had classic findings of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, including a pulsatile abdominal mass, curvilinear aortic calcification, and anterolateral deviation of the left ureter. These findings were subsequently demonstrated at surgery to be due to metastatic nodes from prostatic carcinoma. Data presented indicate that further diagnostic studies may be in order in unusual cases in which patients are suspected of having abdominal aortic aneurysm. This is especially true if the patient is known to have another condition such as carcinoma which may mimic aneurysm with metastatic periaortic lymph nodes. Aortography and/or lymphangiography occasionally have their place in selected patients, and this is discussed.