Thoracic aortic aneurysm
Description
- Permanent dilatation >50% of expected normal diameter for age, sex and body size
- Normal ascending aorta ~3.0-3.5 cm; descending ~2.5-3.0 cm
- Indexed measures matter more than absolute in small/tall patients: aortic size index, or cross-sectional area (cm2) / height (m) >10
By segment - different diseases
| Segment | Typical driver |
|---|---|
| Root / ascending (~60%) | Medial degeneration - connective tissue disease, bicuspid valve, familial TAAD, ageing |
| Arch (~10%) | Extension of ascending or descending |
| Descending (~35%) | Atherosclerosis, hypertension |
| Thoraco-abdominal | Crawford I-V classification |
- Aneurysm = all three layers; pseudoaneurysm = contained rupture, adventitia/haematoma only
- Fusiform (commonest) vs saccular (higher rupture risk at any size)
6 more sections, plus exam facts
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