title: Isolated idiopathic aortitis with an unusually thickened aortic wall: case report.
abstract: Aortitis includes a broad range of disorders involving inflammation of the aorta. While most forms of aortitis can be linked to a specific cause, patients with idiopathic aortitis (IDA), are asymptomatic and usually diagnosed after surgical removal. The specific pathophysiology is not well understood, but can be strongly associated with tobacco smoking, young age at presentation, and family history of aortic aneurysm. Wall thickening is the most common physical characteristic of aortitis, and the inflammation can affect any layer of the aorta. The normal wall thickness of the aorta is less than 4 mm and can be as thick as 9 mm. Few studies document a correlation between wall thickness and the severity of aortitis. This paper presents a unique case of severe aortic aneurysm associated with an abnormal thickening of the ascending aorta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York Medical College at Saint Joseph's, Paterson, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York Medical College at Saint Joseph's, Paterson, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Irina Pa-C
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Gruboy
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, New York Medical College at Saint Joseph's, Paterson, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Altheeb
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaid
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Aria Jefferson Health/Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Shah G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Salil
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York Medical College at Saint Joseph's, Paterson, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Wilbert S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Aronow
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York Medical College at Saint Joseph's, Paterson, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Elozomor
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York Medical College at Saint Joseph's, Paterson, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Jamshed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuberi
keywords: Aortitis; aortic aneurysm; idiopathic aortitis (IDA)