THE ROENTGENOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF ANEURYSMS OF THE SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY

¹ Professor of Radiology and Chairman of Diagnostic Radiology. University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
² Medical Student III.
³ Associate Professor of Surgery.
⁴ Associate Professor of Radiology.

Superior mesenteric artery aneurysms are relatively rare.

When there is calcification in the wall of these aneurysms, the plain film roentgenographic findings can be quite distinctive and suggest a definitive diagnosis. The curvilinear calcification in the wall of the aneurysm is located high in the epigastrium, in the midline or slightly lateral to the midline. In addition, there is a posterior defect in the continuity of the calcified wall of the aneurysm which represents the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. This is a distinctive roentgenographic finding, permitting a presumptive diagnosis which can be confirmed with angiography.

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