aneurysm of the ascending and descending thoracic aorta
Last reviewed 01/2018
Aneurysms of the ascending and descending thoracic aorta were common until the decline of quarternary syphilis with the advent of penicillin. Today the most common cause of these aneurysms is atherosclerosis - although such aneurysms are much more common in the abdominal aorta.
Other causes of thoracic aortic aneurysms include:
- Takayasu's disease
- giant cell arteritis
- tuberculosis