Intramural aortic abscess mimicking chronic aortic dissection

Abstract

A 77-year-old patient was referred for progressive fatigue and dyspnea on exertion. Preoperative imaging evaluations including transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography were suggestive of a chronic ascending aortic dissection with an intramural hematoma. Intraoperatively, the intramural structure was identified as an abscess cavity. © 2012 Forum Multimedia Publishing, LLC.