• Emiliano A Rodríguez-Caulo, Carlos J Velázquez, Mariano García-Borbolla, and José M Barquero.
• Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Virgen Macarena Universitary Hospital, Sevilla, Spain. erodriguezcaulo@hotmail.com
• Ann Vasc Surg. 2011 Nov 1; 25 (8): 1141.e1-3.

AbstractGiant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common form of large vessel arteritis. GCA typically involves the branches of the external carotid artery, but is the leading cause of inflammatory aortitis. However, involvement of the aorta often goes undetected. We present a case of an 81-year-old man, with headache and intense chest pain, who was previously given a diagnosis of GCA with a temporal artery biopsy 6 years ago. Owing to the suspicion of acute aortic syndrome, an emergent computed tomography (CT) was performed. CT showed the development of mega-aorta syndrome, with a diameter of 75.2 mm in the ascending aorta, 61.8 mm in the aortic arch, 76.1 mm in the descending thoracic aorta, and 45.1 mm in the abdominal aorta, presenting a chronic type B aortic dissection. Although there are reported cases secondary to Takayasu arteritis, this is the first case reported in the literature of mega-aorta syndrome associated with GCA in a patient previously diagnosed using temporal artery biopsy.Copyright © 2011 Annals of Vascular Surgery Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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