Aortic dissection with extension to a patent ductus arteriosus.
An 81-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath and fever of 3 days duration. An enhanced CT of the chest revealed a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) communicating with the true lumen of an aortic arch dissection. Neither the aortic dissection nor the PDA was suspected. The patient had no history of a connective tissue abnormality or other condition which would predispose to dissection other than systemic hypertension. It is likely that propagation of the aortic dissection partially re-opened the ductus arteriosus.
Festic
Emir
E
Department of Medicine, New York Methodist Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
Steiner
Robert M
RM
Spatz
Eileen
E
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed