Thoracic aortic aneurysm

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, section through the middle

Aortic rupture, chest X-ray

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Thoracic aortic aneurysm

Alternative Names:

Aortic aneurysm - thoracic; Syphilitic aneurysm; Aneurysm - thoracic aortic

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 indicate acute expansion or leakage of the aneurysm.

Signs and tests:

The physical examination is often normal. A chest X-ray and chest CT scan demonstrate enlargement of the aorta. A chest CT scan identifies the diameter 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) may also identify the location and extent of the aneurysm and identify any branch arteries of the aorta that are also involved.

Review Date: 4/13/2004
Reviewed By: John A. Daller, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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