Vascular Pathology: Infectious Disease: Syphilitic Aneurysm of the Aorta Rupturing Through Chest Wall

A 1933 autopsy specimen from a 51 year old postman, who denied venereal disease, had noticed a swelling on the front of the chest in November 1931, nearly two years before he died. He received anti-syphilitic treatment until August 1932, but during the last few months another lump appeared by the side of the first and became increasingly larger. In July 1933 the skin became discoloured and slightly inflamed and a trickle of blood issued from it. Six days later the aneurysm burst.