Definition:Inflammation of aorta
What The Referring Physician Needs To Know- Significant stenosis also seen in aortic dissection, false aneurysms from laceration of aortic arch after motor vehicle accident
- Dilatation of ascending aorta is one of earliest signs of aortitis, but it is not specific for aortitis because systemic hypertension and aortic valve disease also widen aorta
- Intimal proliferation and fibrosis, degeneration of elastic fibers, round cell infiltration, occasionally giant cells usually allow specific histologic diagnosis
- Gross changes, except in Takayasu disease, are far less specific, regrettably so because these are features seen on angiography and cross-sectional imaging
- Aortic rupture can occur as consequence of any type of aortic dilatation from aortitis
- Distal stenosis in aorta may secondarily produce dilatation of normal proximal aortic segment that may be difficult to distinguish concomitant aortitis of proximal aorta
