Incidental detection of late presenting co-arctation of the aorta on chest x-ray: the importance of rib notching.
A 31-year-old obese male presented to the emergency department with symptoms and signs suggestive of a viral upper respiratory tract illness with a background of low exercise tolerance. Rib notching was identified on plain film chest radiography and subsequent CT of the thorax identified a moderately tight 2-mm juxta-ductal co-arctation of the aorta with multiple enlarged chest wall collaterals. The patient underwent a two-stage percutaneous procedure involving stent insertion and angioplasty up to 16 mm with significant improvement in exercise capacity and a modest reduction in blood pressure.
Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Richard.Warne@health.wa.gov.au
Richard Roger
RR
Warne
Jeremy Sze Luong
JS
Ong
Conor P
CP
Murray
D000328:Adult; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012272:Ribs / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed