Ruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm - Erler Zimmer

Ruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm - Erler Zimmer

Clinical History

No clinical details are available for this specimen.

Pathology

The heart, viewed from the posterior aspect, displays both ventricles. A notable saccular dilatation is observed in the thoracic ascending aorta, featuring several atherosclerotic plaques, with evident posterior rupture marked by dark staining. Both ventricles exhibit hypertrophy. The coronary arteries, along with the aortic and tricuspid valves, appear normal. This specimen illustrates a ruptured aneurysm of the ascending aorta.

Further Information

Incidental findings of ascending aorta dilation are common in transthoracic echocardiography performed for unrelated indications.
The thoracic aorta comprises three parts: ascending, arch, and descending. The ascending aorta, extending from beyond the aortic valve to the innominate artery, spans approximately 5 cm and consists of the aortic root and tubular ascending aorta. Over 50% of thoracic aortic aneurysms localize to the ascending segment, affecting either the aortic root or tubular aortic portion.
An aneurysm, defined as a localized dilation exceeding 50% of the predicted diameter, distinguishes itself from ectasia, characterized by diffuse dilation below the 50% threshold. The incidence of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms is estimated to be around 10 per 100,000 person-years.