Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2012

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals.

Volume 20, April 2012, Pages: 208-209.

The published version is available at DOI: 10.1177/0218492311423846. Copyright © Sage Publications

Abstract

A 45-year-old Hispanic woman presented with a 3-day history of ‘‘burning’’ chest pain. A computed tomo- graphic angiogram of the chest revealed the ascending aorta had a maximum diameter of 40 mm with marked thickening of the aortic wall (Figure 1), which we con- cluded was an intramural hematoma. On entering the pericardium, a milky-white plaque-like area on the ascending aorta was encountered (Figure 2). The ascending aorta was firm to palpation. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and epiaortic ultra- sound showed a hyperechoic aortic wall with no find- ings compatible with aortic dissection. The ascending aorta had an irregular surface contour, which was unli- kely to be a finding of aortic dissection (Figure 3A, arrow). The transverse arch, proximal innominate artery, and left carotid artery also showed thickened walls (Figures 3B and 3C). We decided not to replace the ascending aorta. Pathology of the surface of the ascending aorta revealed a chronic inflammatory infiltrate with lymphocytes and plasma cells, dense fibrosis, and granulation. Serological studies were inconclusive. The patient was started on steroid therapy for possible isolated aortitis or aortitis syndrome, and her symptoms subsided with a normalized erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level. She was doing well with a stable chest radiograph 10 months after the surgery.

PubMed ID

22499977

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