Thoracic aortic dissection occurs when the intima of the aorta becomes compromised and “tears” or “dissects” a new layer that fills with blood between the intima and the media. This “false lumen” can ...

Ascending aortic aneurysms are a subtype of thoracic aneurysms, which occur in the chest area. They affect thousands of Americans annually and can be life threatening if not monitored. An aneurysm is ...

The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. It leaves the heart and forms an arch. The arch’s downward portion, called the descending aorta, is connected to a network of arteries that supplies ...

Ultrasound can be used as a first-line tool for regular and follow-up screening for aortic aneurysms in patients with giant cell arteritis due to a strong correlation with CT results, a study shows.

A ruptured ascending aortic aneurysm -- the reported cause of death of American soccer writer Grant Wahl -- is a rare but deadly medical condition. "Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, ...

Your aorta is a tube-like structure that resembles a candy cane. The thoracoabdominal aorta starts after the curve of the cane and extends past the arteries that deliver blood to the stomach, ...

An ascending aortic aneurysm occurs when the aortic wall becomes weakened and enlarges. Many causes exist including atherosclerosis, hypertension and connective tissue disorders. There are no specific ...