The American journal of medicine
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The clinical, roentgenologic and laboratory findings in 124 patients with dissecting aneurysm of the aorta are reported. In 53 patients the dissection occurred in the ascending aorta ("proximal" dissection), and in 71 patients the site of origin was the descending thoracic aorta ("distal" dissection). Certain distinct clinical differences between the groups were apparent. ⋯ In both groups, syncope appeared to correlate well with the occurrence of cardiac tamponade. Chest roentgenograms almost always showed an abnormal aortic contour. Aortic angiography, when performed, was usually confirmatory of the diagnosis.