Infected aortic aneurysm and inflammatory aortic aneurysm each account for a minor fraction of the total incidence of aortic aneurysm and are associated with periaortic inflammation. Despite the similarity, infected aortic aneurysm generally shows a more rapid change in clinical condition, leading to a fatal outcome; in addition, delayed diagnosis ...

The echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac thrombi, vegetations and tumors as well as the identification of predisposing conditions such as patent foramen ovale, aortic atherosclerosis and other minor causes (e.g., mitral valve prolapse, mitral and aortic valve calcification) have crucial clinical relevance, affecting the choice of surgery and/or of pharmaceutical therapy ...

ABSTRACT: Intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm is extremely rare, with only a few case reports in the literature. Presented in this case report is a patient who developed an intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm after thoracentesis for recurrent pleural effusion. Diagnosis traditionally required arteriography; however, as shown in this case, the resolution of current ...

We report an unusual and malignant presentation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) resulting in thrombosis of a cervicocephalic artery by tumor in a healthy 37-year-old woman. The patient's rapid decline and multiorgan involvement proved to be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, and despite the efforts of a coordinated multidisciplinary health care ...

The most common neurological injuries associated with roller coaster rides are subdural hematoma and cervical artery dissection. We report two cases of roller-coaster associated subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A 40-year-old healthy man developed a strong, holocephalic headache during a roller coaster ride. SAH Hunt & Hess grade II and Fisher grade ...

We report a 34-year-old woman with sudden onset of unilateral migraine-like headache and right homonymous hemianopsia. Fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (FIESTA) of the posterior cerebral artery captured an intimal flap and a pseudolumen, leading to a diagnosis of posterior cerebral artery dissection. This case was considered a spontaneous posterior ...

Pseudoaneurysms arising from the visceral arteries are rare. We present 2 patients who developed pseudoaneurysms arising from branches of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) following laparoscopic appendicectomy. Both cases were successfully treated by endovascular embolization. The diagnosis and management of SMA branch pseudoaneurysms are discussed.

PURPOSE.: Pulmonary sarcoidosis without overt radiographic fibrosis may be difficult to diagnose; ophthalmic examination aided diagnosis of our case. CASE REPORT.: The patient was a 55-year-old man whose dyspnea had been misdiagnosed and who had been treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Physical and ophthalmic examinations including slitlamp, fundoscopic, and ...

Type A aortic dissection is a life-threatening event to both mother and baby, and accounted for 14% of maternal cardiac deaths in the 2006-2008 UK Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths. Difficulty exists in the diagnosis of this rare but potentially curable condition, the mortality of which increases with delay in ...

A pulmonary embolism and cerebral infarction are the second and third most common acute cardiovascular diseases after a myocardial infarction. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are important clinical challenges. In this case, a fatal pulmonary embolism and extensive cerebral infarction caused cardiac arrest during spinal anesthesia for total hip replacement ...

A 30 years old male patient was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism due to thorax-computerized tomography (CT) angiography, revealing a thrombus totally occluding left main pulmonary artery. The lesion was evaluated as tumoural mass. Positron emission tomography (PET)-CT revealed pathologic uptake at pulmonay artery mass. ...

Pulmonary artery sarcomas are rare, difficult-to-diagnose tumors that frequently mimic chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. We report the cases of two female patients with clinical signs of dyspnea and lung masses associated with pulmonary artery filling defects on chest CT angiography. We performed 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, which revealed increased radiotracer uptake ...

Pulmonary embolism and concomitant right atrial thrombus entrapped in a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a rare, unusual finding in echocardiography. The diagnosis of paradoxical embolism is usually presumptive when PFO is detected by echocardiography. We herein reported a case of a 53-year-old patient presenting with pulmonary embolism in which ...

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hemorrhage is one of the dreaded complications of thrombolytic therapy for acute pulmonary embolism. We identified patients with pulmonary embolism who may be at relatively high risk of intracerebral hemorrhage from those selected for thrombolytic therapy by their physicians and presumably thought to be of reasonable risk. METHODS: ...

Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening hemorrhagic disorder caused by the development of an inhibitor against coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). AHA is very rare, affecting approximately 1 in 1 million individuals. However, the incidence may actually be higher, because diagnosis is difficult and the disease can be ...

Right pulmonary artery to left atrial fistula is a rare pathology characterised by a right to left shunt. Another important aspect of this pathology is the difficulty encountered in making a diagnosis, which is why the diagnosis is frequently delayed into adulthood. A description of two cases is used to ...

BACKGROUND: The treatment of acute ischemic stroke in the setting of infective endocarditis (IE) is not well established. Although there have been a few reports on the use of intravenous thrombolysis, the role of mechanical thrombolysis through embolectomy is unknown. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 78-year-old woman with an acute middle cerebral ...

A young patient experienced two subsequent acute coronary syndromes due to left anterior descending (LAD) artery occlusion. Different ability of homocoronary collateral vessels to supply the ischemic territories, depending on the site of LAD artery occlusion, was associated with different clinical consequences. The case underscores the crucial role of the ...

To describe cholesterol embolization syndrome (CES) and its risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. To date, no specific diagnostic test (other than biopsy) for CES has been developed. Effective treatments for CES are yet to be developed. CES (also referred to as cholesterol crystal embolization, atheromatous embolization or ...

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially life-threatening disease; however, the clinical presentation of acute PE can be quite variable, making the diagnosis a challenge. Occlusion of the pulmonary arterial bed can lead to gas exchange abnormalities or right ventricular dysfunction. Mortality rates are high but can be ...

Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition, warranting prompt diagnosis and treatment. Management of which incorporates multidisciplinary expertise from the medical, surgical and intensive care. If left untreated, the mortality rate of acute aortic disease exceeds 50% within 48 hours and 80% within two weeks, with a 5-year survival rate ...

External iliac artery endofibrosis describes an intimal subendothelial fibrosis leading to wall thickening and stenosis that has been described in high-performance athletes. There are anatomical, mechanical, and probably metabolic factors that may contribute to this pathology. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement with exercise testing, duplex ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic ...

Extensive venous thrombosis is usually seen postmortem in amebic liver abscess because of its dismal prognosis. Herein, we describe amebic liver abscess, whose late diagnosis led to multiple deep thromboses, pulmonary embolism, and right atrial thrombosis, in this patient with patent foramen ovale.

BACKGROUND: <0.05). The largest relative DTRs were for fever (DTR=5.11; P<0.001) and transfer from nontertiary hospital (DTR=3.34; P<0.001). Delay in time from diagnosis to surgery was associated with a history of previous cardiac surgery, presentation without abrupt or any pain, and initial presentation to a nontertiary care hospital (all P<0.001). ...

True aneurysm of the brachial artery is a rare disease entity. The mechanism of aneurysm formation is considered to be compression of the arterial wall, producing contusion of the media and subsequent weakness of the wall and fusiform dilatation. It can be caused by arteriosclerotic, congenital, and metabolic disorders, and ...

We report a patient who was known to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm and was being assessed for endovascular repair by calibrated angiogram, who developed back pain and cardiovascular collapse, where a computed tomography scan proved essential in establishing the correct diagnosis - bleed from an accessory renal artery branch.

To the Editor: Wechsler (June 2 issue)(1) presents a case vignette of an 81-year-old patient who arrived in the emergency department after the apparent onset of a major left hemispheric ischemic stroke about an hour earlier. After the diagnosis was confirmed on imaging, therapy with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator ...

To the Editor: Wechsler (June 2 issue)(1) presents a case vignette of an 81-year-old patient who arrived in the emergency department after the apparent onset of a major left hemispheric ischemic stroke about an hour earlier. After the diagnosis was confirmed on imaging, therapy with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator ...

To the Editor: Wechsler (June 2 issue)(1) presents a case vignette of an 81-year-old patient who arrived in the emergency department after the apparent onset of a major left hemispheric ischemic stroke about an hour earlier. After the diagnosis was confirmed on imaging, therapy with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator ...

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome (APVS) is a rare conotruncal anomaly consisting of a severely hypoplastic pulmonary valve with annular stenosis, aneurysmal dilatation of main pulmonary artery with dilatation of one or both pulmonary artery branches, and a ventricular septal defect. Here, we report a prenatal echo diagnosis of APVS in ...

A 50-year-old patient with symptoms of an acute appendicitis turns out to be suffering of a life threatening rupture of a renal artery aneurysm. We performed an emergency operation with the resection of this aneurysm. An imminent hemorrhagic shock made a targeted intensive medical therapy necessary.

Venous thromboembolism refers to thrombotic events in the venous system that are most commonly manifested as deep vein thromboses in the upper or lower extremity and/or pulmonary embolism. Venous thromboembolism is a common disorder that is associated with significant mortality, morbidity and health care-related cost. An array of hereditary and ...

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is the most common aortic catastrophe. The mortality rate of type A dissection approaches 40% to 50% in 48 hours. Causes of death include rupture, aortic insufficiency, or malperfusion involving the coronary arteries, head vessels, visceral arteries, and lower extremities. Other acute aortic conditions can be ...

Authors report a case of a painless acute dissecting aneurysm of the descending aorta in a patient who presented with unexplained hypotension followed by simultaneous paraplegia and right arm monoparesis. To our knowledge, case like this has not been reported previously. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine revealed ...

We present a case of floating thrombus originating from an almost normal thoracic aorta in a 54-year-old man who presented with acute arterial occlusion of his left leg. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed two masses in an almost normal aorta after embolectomy for the acute ...

Herein we describe a case of marantic endocarditis (non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis) that presented with coronary, cerebral and peripheral emboli, fevers and malaise, and negative blood cultures. The 'kissing lesions' on all three leaflets of the aortic valve were bulky and friable. After aortic valve surgery, an acute abdomen prompted laparoscopy ...

We report the case of a patient previously treated with an iliac branch endograft for isolated iliac artery aneurysm who developed, more than 2 years later, a type B aortic dissection resulting in the acute expansion of the previously excluded iliac aneurysm. Successful endovascular salvage is described.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The etiologic diagnosis of intracranial arterial occlusion is sometimes challenging because of the dynamic nature of acute stroke. We investigated whether short-term follow-up vascular imaging adds additional information to the differential diagnosis between intracranial atherosclerotic and embolic occlusion. METHODS: Acute ischemic stroke patients with symptomatic middle cerebral ...

Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is an idiopathic noninflammatory vasculopathy involving small to medium arteries, usually in the abdomen, although arteries in the cerebral and coronary circulations also may be affected. Some cases present as abdominal apoplexy due to aneurysmal rupture, but ischemia and infarction also occur. Not uncommonly, SAM may ...

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound is an effective and reliable method to diagnosis the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. However, there has been limited literature regarding ultrasound diagnosis of acute aortic thrombosis. OBJECTIVE: Discuss a patient case with acute aortic thrombosis diagnosed by point-of-care emergency ultrasound. Review common etiologies and treatment ...

OBJECTIVES: Unilateral hyperlucent lung on chest radiograph is uncommon in children. It is often found incidentally and always refers to Swyer-James syndrome, with decrease in pulmonary vascularity and air trapping during expiration. However, it may occasionally mimic other serious lung diseases such as pulmonary hypoplasia/aplasia, defect of pulmonary artery, and ...

Early diagnosis and treatment of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is important because it has a high mortality rate. We report a case of PVE which was difficult to diagnose. A 36-year-old man, who had undergone an aortic valve replacement (AVR) 7 years prior, was hospitalized with a high fever of ...

A 42-year-old woman underwent coronary angiography for acute coronary syndrome. It showed a progressive narrowing from the middle segment of the left anterior descending artery. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) confirmed the angiographic suspicion of spontaneous coronary dissection. OCT also revealed different patterns of subjacent disease, imperceptible to the angiography: areas ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Endovascular techniques are increasingly employed to treat patients with acute and chronic diseases of the thoracic aorta. This review focuses on current indication and results of thoracic endovascular stent-graft repair in patients with acute type B aortic dissection. RECENT FINDINGS: In patients with type B acute dissections, ...

Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) is a modern term to describe interrelated emergency aortic conditions with similar clinical characteristics and challenges. These conditions include aortic dissection, intramural haematoma (IMH), and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU and aortic rupture); trauma to the aorta with intimal laceration may also be considered. The common denominator ...

Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a rare congenital heart malformation. It refers to a connection between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary trunk before bifurcation. We report a case of APW that was detected by prenatal fetal echocardiography. The diagnosis was confirmed postnatally with an additional partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. ...

Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma is a rare tumour and the diagnosis is often delayed. We report the case of a woman with a primary pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma who presented with massive pulmonary embolism. The definitive diagnosis was elucidated after the patient's death by autopsy specimen. We discuss the diagnosis ...

Management of acute pathology remains one of the most challenging clinical entities, with a persistently high mortality rate both prior to and upon arrival to a hospital. Responding to the distinct advantages of endovascular approaches to aortic disease, many high-volume cardiovascular centers have focused on endovascular therapies for managing patients ...

Aortic valve thickening or stenosis is a highly prevalent heart valve lesion seen in 2-7% of adults over 65 years (Freeman and Otto, 2005). The diagnosis can be overlooked in the acutely ill patient because the signs may be masked and difficult to detect, and yet untreated, when severe, it ...

Pulmonary embolism is a common and potentially lethal disease. Given the variable presentation and associated morbidity of this condition, an accurate and efficient diagnostic algorithm is required. Clinical pretest probability serves as the root of any diagnostic approach. We, thus, review several clinical decision rules that may help standardize this ...