title: Saccular outpouchings of an ascending aortic aneurysm: transesophageal echocardiographic appearance.
abstract: The differential diagnosis of cavities in the ascending aorta includes pseudoaneurysms, intimal flaps, and abscesses. We describe the transesophageal echocardiographic and pathologic appearance of a fusiform ascending aortic aneurysm that contained atypical outpouchings that were initially confused with an intimal flap. Awareness of this unreported abnormality and its echocardiographic features will avoid the misdiagnosis of more serious aortic pathology such as acute aortic dissection or infective endocarditis.
authors.affiliation: Rush-Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612-3864, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Starck
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Goldin
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000785:Aneurysm, Infected / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging