Tuberculous mycotic aneurysm of aortic root: an unusual cause of cardiac tamponade

We describe a young male who presented to the emergency room with sudden onset dyspnea, and was found to have aortic root aneurysm with aortic regurgitation and cardiac tamponade. He underwent a Bentall procedure, and excised aortic root tissue showed epithelioid cell granulomas with panaortitis. He was started on antitubercular therapy, with which he improved. Although tubercular aortitis is fairly common, tuberculous mycotic aneurysm of the aorta is rare, with involvement of the aortic root being exceedingly uncommon. We report only the fifth case in English literature of tuberculous mycotic aneurysm of the aortic root.