In this Through the Lens case, we examine the death of a 78-year-old individual found in a secure residence. Dr. Jamie Elifritz highlights how postmortem CT revealed a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with retroperitoneal hemorrhage, emphasizing the importance of imaging in identifying natural disease processes that can cause sudden unexpected death.
Case 2025.02
Case: 78 year old found in a secure residence. LKA earlier the same day.
Question: What is the diagnosis?
Learning Point
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) can rapidly lead to fatal retroperitoneal hemorrhage. CT imaging plays a critical role in identifying the rupture site and associated bleeding patterns, even in non-traumatic deaths.
