Description
This specimen shows the arch of the aorta, the trachea and major bronchi. The arch is distorted by
a 6cm aneurysm arising just beyond the origin of the left subclavian artery. The aneurysm contains
laminated clot. The trachea is displaced laterally by the aneurysm but is not eroded. The
oesophagus is also displaced and distorted. Further, it is ulcerated at the apex of the aneurysm with
blood clot protruding through the ulcer into the lumen of the oesophagus. The aneurysm appears
to be atheromatous, but it is in the position where traumatic aneurysms occur.