Painless dissection of the thoracic aorta.
A 64-year-old man presented to an emergency department with a two-week history of intermittent, bilateral lower extremity paralysis without associated chest, abdominal, or back pain. He subsequently deteriorated and died as a result of a thoracic aortic dissection. This unusual case is reported, and the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of aortic dissection are discussed.
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis