Items tagged “aorta”
23 results found
Article
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are focal dilatations of the abdominal aorta measuring 50% greater than the proximal normal segment or >3 cm in maximum diameter.
They can be confined to the abdominal aorta or continue from the thoracic aorta as part of a thoraco-abdominal aneurysm (TAAA).
The...
Article
Aortic arch
The aortic arch represents the direct continuation of the ascending aorta and represents a key area for a review of normal variant anatomy and a wide range of pathological processes that range from congenital anomalies to traumatic injury.
Summary
origin: continuation of the ascending aorta at...
Article
Aortic dissection
Aortic dissection is the prototype and most common form of acute aortic syndromes and a type of arterial dissection. It occurs when blood enters the medial layer of the aortic wall through a tear or penetrating ulcer in the intima and tracks longitudinally along with the media, forming a second ...
Article
Aortic intramural hematoma
Aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) is an atypical form of aortic dissection due to a contained hemorrhage into the aortic wall usually from the vasa vasorum without an intimal tear. It forms part of the acute aortic syndrome spectrum along with penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer and classical aorti...
Article
Thoracic aortic dilatation (differential)
There is a broad differential for thoracic aortic dilatation.
Differential diagnosis
senile ectasia
hypertension
post-stenotic dilatation, e.g. bicuspid aortic valve
thoracic aortic aneurysm
atherosclerosis (usually descending thoracic aorta)
collagen disorders
Marfa...
Article
Endoleak
Endoleaks are characterized by persistent blood flow within the aneurysm sac following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Normally the aortic stent-graft used for EVAR excludes the aneurysm from the circulation by providing a conduit for blood to bypass the sac.
Epidemiology
An endoleak is a...
Article
Figure 3 sign (aortic coarctation)
The figure 3 sign is seen in aortic coarctation and is formed by prestenotic dilatation of the aortic arch and left subclavian artery, indentation at the coarctation site (also known as the "tuck"), and post-stenotic dilatation of the descending aorta.
On barium studies of the esophagus in pati...
Article
Reverse figure 3 sign (esophagus)
The reverse figure 3 sign (also known as the E sign) is seen on barium swallows in patients with coarctation of the aorta and is the medial equivalent of the figure 3 sign seen on plain chest radiographs. It is formed by prestenotic dilatation of the ascending aorta, indentation of the coarctati...
Article
Coarctation of the aorta
Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) refers to a narrowing of the aortic lumen.
Epidemiology
Coarctations account for between 5-8% of all congenital heart defects. They are more frequent in males, M:F ratio of ~2-3:1.
Associations
As with many congenital abnormalities, coarctation of the aorta is ...
Article
Coronary arteries
The coronary arteries arise from the aortic sinuses immediately distal (superior) to the aortic valve and supply the myocardium of the heart with oxygenated blood. The arteries branch to encircle the heart covering its surface with a lacy network, perhaps resembling a slightly crooked crown.
Gr...
Article
Thoracic aortic aneurysm
Thoracic aortic aneurysms are a type of thoraco-abdominal aneurysms and are relatively uncommon compared to abdominal aortic aneurysms. There is a wide range of causes, and the ascending aorta is the segment most commonly affected. Both CT-angiography and MR-angiography are the modalities of cho...
Article
Causes of ascending aorta calcification
There are relatively few causes of calcification of the ascending aorta 1-3:
atherosclerosis (this usually spares the ascending aorta)
aortitis
syphilis
Takayasu arteritis
idiopathic
See also
porcelain aorta
Article
Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer
Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers (PAU) are pathologies that involve the aortic wall and along with aortic dissection and aortic intramural hematoma, form the spectrum of acute aortic syndrome.
Epidemiology
Typically, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers are seen in elderly male patients with ...
Article
Bicuspid aortic valve
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) refers to a spectrum of deformed aortic valves with two functional leaflets or cusps which are often unequal in size.
They are most often congenital while an acquired bicuspid valve occurs when there is fibrous fusion between the right and left cusps of a pre-existin...
Article
Descending aorta
The descending aorta is the continuation of the aortic arch in the posterior mediastinum.
Gross anatomy
The descending aorta commences at the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra body, on its left, in the plane of Ludwig as the continuation of the aortic arch. It descends in the posterior med...
Article
Ascending aortic aneurysm
Ascending aortic aneurysms are the most common subtype of thoracic aortic aneurysms and may be true or false aneurysms.
Epidemiology
Ascending aortic aneurysms represent 60% of thoracic aortic aneurysms.
Clinical presentation
Typically ascending aortic aneurysms are an incidental finding a...
Article
Luetic aneurysm
Luetic aneurysms (also known as syphilitic aneurysms) are a type of aneurysm occurring usually secondary to syphilitic aortitis.
For a general discussion, and for links to other system-specific manifestations, please refer to the article on syphilis.
Pathology
The responsible organism is a ...
Article
Small aorta (differential)
Causes of a small aorta include:
Williams syndrome
Takayasu arteritis
giant cell arteritis
neurofibromatosis
midaortic syndrome
small aorta syndrome
idiopathic
Article
Double aortic arch
Double aortic arches are the most common symptomatic type of the aortic arch variant. It may account for up to 50-60% of vascular rings.
Clinical presentation
Double aortic arch is mostly diagnosed in childhood due to symptoms related to esophageal and/or tracheal obstruction. Respiratory symp...
Article
Floating viscera sign
The floating viscera sign is an angiographic sign that occurs when there is visualization of branches of the abdominal aorta (e.g. celiac axis, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries) during aortography with little or no visualization of the aortic lumen.
The floating viscera sign indic...
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