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dissecting aneurysm

Pathology: - occurs when rupture of the arterial intima results in extravasation of blood from the lumen into the vessel wall with separation of different vessel wall layers by extravasated blood - the lumen of the vessel may be occluded &/or the dissection may extend down the vessel to a branch point where a second intimal tear creates a patent channel for the extravasted blood - intravascular coagulation may occur within the pathologic lumen Laboratory: - D-dimer > 500 ng/mL may reflect intravascular coagulation with subsequent fibrinolysis

Specific

dissecting aortic aneurysm; aortic dissection (acute aortic syndrome)

General

vascular aneurysm arterial dissection

References

  1. DeGowin & DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination, 6th edition, RL DeGowin (ed), McGraw Hill, NY 1994, pg 864
  2. Suzuki T et al. for the IRAD-Bio Investigators. Diagnosis of acute aortic dissection by D-dimer: The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection Substudy on Biomarkers (IRAD-Bio) experience. Circulation 2009 May 26; 119:2702 PMID: 19433758