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Aortic Aneurysm: Clinical Findings, Diagnostic and Treatment
The aorta is the largest artery in the body and can have aneurysms, which are focal expansions of the vessel wall that can occur anywhere throughout the artery. These can be classified as thoracic, abdominal or thoracoabdominal aneurysms and can be caused by several etiologies, including degenerative, infectious, and genetic causes. Most aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic and are detected incidentally while looking for other primary diseases with a physical exam finding of a pulsatile mass, or with imaging such as ultrasound, computed tomography, x-rays, or magnetic resonance imaging. When symptoms are present, they are often nonspecific and occur due to inflammation, rapid expansion, compression/erosion of the aneurysm into surrounding structures, or rupture. Uncontrolled aortic aneurysms can lead to fatal outcomes, thus making proper management essential. Management can range from medical treatment to surgical repair based on location, size, rate of expansion, and presence of symptoms.
Part of the book: Aortic Aneurysm