Tuberculous aortitis, ruptured 48 years after therapeutic implantation of synthetic balls.

A case of tuberculous aortitis, ruptured 48 years after an implantation of synthetic balls into the extrapleural space was reported. Those balls were implanted as a therapeutic alternative to artificial pneumothorax for treating pulmonary tuberculosis. Free perforation was triggered by debridement of an expanding cold abscess. A tuberculous abscess adjacent to the arterial wall should be carefully managed even in the absence of the blood flow by image analysis.