COOPERATIVE CLINICAL STUDIES IN THE TREATMENT OF SYPHILIS: CARDIOVASCULAR SYPHILIS

Abstract

The use of the term aneurysm in this paper is confined to a sacculated pocket of an artery due to fibrosis and destruction of the elastic tissue of the wall of the vessel from specific inflammation of the vasa vasorum. In some cases there may be associated mediastinitis and perivasculitis. Fusiform dilatation of the aorta, or of another large artery, is not included under the heading of aneurysm, though we agree with Grant¹that it may sometimes be difficult to make the clinical distinction between fusiform and saccular dilatation. Although the fundamental pathologic processes of fusiform and saccular aneurysms are identical, the clinical manifestations, prognosis and amenability to treatment of the two conditions make it advisable to consider them separately. A paper dealing with the fusiform aneurysm and comparing the end-results of treatment in cases of that condition with those obtained in cases of saccular aneurysm will appear at