title: Spontaneous dissection of the abdominal aorta.
abstract: Acute dissection of the aorta is a vascular surgical emergency. The majority of dissections originate in the thoracic aorta. Dissection originating in the infrarenal abdominal aorta is very rare and, given the vagueness of presenting symptoms of uncomplicated dissection, diagnosis is very difficult in the early stages. In the absence of a pulsatile abdominal mass, acute uncomplicated aortic dissection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sudden onset of abdominal and back pain. We report a case of spontaneous infrarenal abdominal aortic dissection occurring in an ostensibly normal aorta, and discuss the diagnostic dilemma and subsequent management of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgical Unit, General Infirmary at Leeds, Great George Street, Leeds, U.K.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kibria
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Leveson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Homer-Vanniasinkam
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography