Thoracic aneurysms most often occur in the descending thoracic aorta. Others may appear in the ascending aorta or the aortic arch.
The most common cause of a thoracic aortic aneurysm is hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
Other risk factors include various connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome, atherosclerosis, previous dissection of the aorta, having high blood pressure for a long time, trauma such as falls or motor vehicle accidents, and syphilis.
Symptoms:
Most patients have no symptoms until the aneurysm begins to leak or expand. Most non-leaking thoracic aortic aneurysms are detected by tests -- usually a chest x-ray or a chest CT scan -- run for other reasons. Chest or back pain may mean sudden widening or leakage of the aneurysm.
Signs and tests:
The physical examination is often normal. A chest x-ray and chest CT scan show if the aorta is enlarged. A chest CT scan shows the size of the aorta and the exact location of the aneurysm.
An aortogram (a special set of x-ray images made during injection of dye into the aorta) can identify the aneurysm and any branches of the aorta that may be involved.
Review Date: 7/5/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, MD, Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Complex Aortic Surgery
