title: Sarcoidosis or acute coronary syndrome: Easily distinguishable?
abstract: Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare presenting feature of ST-elevation myocardial infarction. We describe such a case which resolved with thrombolysis, and on further investigation, the patient was found to have a large sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. Abnormal gross pathology at the time of surgery was suspected to be aortitis which was only confirmed on postmortem examination 6 months later. We highlight the importance of working closely with a pathologist when aortitis is suspected, because failure to treat it medically results in a poor outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK Wmarley01@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: William Dominic
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Marley
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Reuben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jeganathan
mesh_terms: D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001025:Aortitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001344:Autopsy; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D056989:Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Aortic aneurysm; Aortitis; Myocardial infarction; Sarcoidosis; Sinus of Valsalva; Vasculitis