Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm in Marfan's Syndrome

CARDIOVASCULAR stigmata are present in 30% to 60% of patients with Marfan's syndrome and dissecting aneurysm occurring in a medionecrotic aorta accounts for at least one third of the cardiovascular manifestations.1 In the past, the diagnosis of aortic dissection was either inferred from the clinical signs or made at autopsy.2,3 Angiography has not been widely used in the evaluation of these cases. Aneurysmal dilatation of the aortic sinuses of Valsalva and aneurysm of the ascending aorta have been demonstrated by contrast study.4The purpose of this paper is to report an aneurysm of the pulmonary artery, aneurysm of the ascending aorta, and dissection in the entire aorta in a patient with Marfan's syndrome. In addition, the dissecting hematoma is shown in the preoperative and postoperative angiograms. REPORT OF A CASE CLINICAL HISTORY:— The patient (G-NHCH- B 48062), a 33-year-old white male laborer, was admitted to the Yale-New