Thoracoacromial artery bleeding manifests as an enlarging chest mass: A rare case report

Abstract

Thoracoacromial artery perforation is a rare complication after coronary angiography. Herein, we reported a 70-year-old male previous post coronary artery bypass surgery being admitted for chest discomfort. Coronary angiography from radial artery approach showed all patent bypassed grafts and the patient was sent back to the ordinary ward. However, enlarging mass over left chest wall as woman’s breast was noted suddenly and we immediately used sandbag and elastic adhesive tape to compress the mass. Emergent chest computed tomography showed a large hematoma at the left chest wall with active bleeding from pectoral branch of thoracoacromial artery. However, left chest wall mass gradually subsided after compression strategy. This patient reminds physicians thoracoacromial artery perforation manifesting as chest wall mass is a rare but possible complication after coronary angiography.