Dissecting Aortic Hematomas

Severe retrosternal pain that radiates to the back is the classic presentation of an aortic dissection. An intinal tear is thought to be the initiating process in a dissecting aortic aneurysm. The dissection can extend through the media along the aorta, both proximally and distally. The intramural hematoma dissects through the media and can compress major arterial branches.