Thoracic aortic aneurysm overview: Difference between revisions
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* [[Superior vena cava syndrome]] | * [[Superior vena cava syndrome]] | ||
==Risk factors== | |||
Hypertension and cigarette smoking are the most important risk factors, though the importance of genetic factors in the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm (such as familial thoracic aortic aneurysm; familial aortic dissection) has been increasingly recognized. Approximately 10% of patients may have other family members who have aortic aneurysms. It is also important to note that individuals with a history of aneurysms in other parts of the body have a higher chance of developing a thoracic aortic aneurysm.<ref>Thoracic Aortic Disease - Northwestern Memorial Hospital. [http://www.nmh.org/nm/vascular-disease-thoracic-aortic-disease Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm]</ref> | |||
Specific thoracic aortic aneurysm risk factors include: | |||
*Smoking or chewing tobacco | |||
*[[High blood pressure]] | |||
*[[Bicuspid aortic valve]]s | |||
*[[Atherosclerosis]] (buildup of plaque in the arteries that can damage the lining) | |||
*Gender | |||
:*Aortic aneurysms are three time more prevalent in males versus females | |||
*Race | |||
:*Aortic aneurysms are more frequent in Caucasian individuals versus other races | |||
*Individuals who have a [[family history of aortic aneurysms]] have a much higher risk of rupture and tend to develop aneurysms at a younger age | |||
*[[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] | |||
*Previous repair of a thoracic aorta aneurysm | |||
*[[Turners syndrome]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist|2}} | {{Reflist|2}} | ||
Revision as of 20:48, 21 October 2012
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Thoracic aortic aneurysm Microchapters |
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Differentiating Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm from other Diseases |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Special Scenarios |
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Case Studies |
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Thoracic aortic aneurysm overview On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Thoracic aortic aneurysm overview |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Thoracic aortic aneurysm overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Editor-in-Chief: Amjad AlMahameed, MD, MPH, RPVI, FACP. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. Boston, USA
Overview
Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) encompass all aneurysms the aorta between the aortic root and the crura of the diaphragm. The aortic root and the ascending thoracic aorta are the most common sites of TAAs (60%), followed by the descending thoracic aorta (40%). Involvement of the aortic arch and/or extension of a TAA into the abdominal aorta (AA) (so called thoracoabdominal aneurysms) are relatively uncommon subsets (each encountered in 10% of cases or less).
Differentiation of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm from Other Disorders
Thoracic aortic aneurysms are often asymptomatic and as a result can be easily missed. If chest pain is present, it is critical to differentiate a thoracic aortic aneurysm with dissection from other potential life-threatening diseases which include the following:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms [1]
- Acute myocardial infarction [2]
- Congestive heart failure
- Aortic regurgitation
- Blunt chest trauma
- Hypertensive emergency
- Hemothorax
- Pneumothorax
- Pericarditis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Cardiac tamponade
- Superior vena cava syndrome
Risk factors
Hypertension and cigarette smoking are the most important risk factors, though the importance of genetic factors in the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm (such as familial thoracic aortic aneurysm; familial aortic dissection) has been increasingly recognized. Approximately 10% of patients may have other family members who have aortic aneurysms. It is also important to note that individuals with a history of aneurysms in other parts of the body have a higher chance of developing a thoracic aortic aneurysm.[3]
Specific thoracic aortic aneurysm risk factors include:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- High blood pressure
- Bicuspid aortic valves
- Atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque in the arteries that can damage the lining)
- Gender
- Aortic aneurysms are three time more prevalent in males versus females
- Race
- Aortic aneurysms are more frequent in Caucasian individuals versus other races
- Individuals who have a family history of aortic aneurysms have a much higher risk of rupture and tend to develop aneurysms at a younger age
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Previous repair of a thoracic aorta aneurysm
- Turners syndrome
References
- ↑ Larsson E, Vishnevskaya L, Kalin B, Granath F, Swedenborg J, Hultgren R (2011). "High frequency of thoracic aneurysms in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms". Annals of Surgery. 253 (1): 180–4. doi:10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181d96498. PMID 20571364. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Schubert H (2003). "Thoracic aortic dissection: distinguishing it from acute myocardial infarction". Canadian Family Physician Médecin De Famille Canadien. 49: 583–5. PMC 2214223. PMID 12790268. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Thoracic Aortic Disease - Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm