A rare complication of catheter manipulation in the abdominal aorta, namely cholesterol embolism with spinal infarction, is reported. At the time of postmortem examination, an abdominal aneurysm with diffusely ulcerated atheromatous disease was found. Cholesterol crystals were demonstrated in the spinal arteries. This case seems to confirm our previous experience that catheter manipulation and injection into abdominal aneurysms is hazardous. Once the guidewire has been passed through the aneurysm into the thoracic aorta, threading of a catheter is usually not associated with the described complication.