Thoracic aortic aneurysms

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a silent disease that can be lethal¹. An aneurysm is a permanent localised dilation of an artery, at least 50% greater than the normal luminal diameter, which varies depending on the patient’s body mass index, age and gender². This dilation is often diagnosed as an incidental finding on imaging that was undertaken for unrelated reasons³. This dilatation weakens the wall of the aorta, leading to aortic rupture or dissection. A ruptured aortic aneurysm can be associated with greater than 77% to 95% mortality so quick diagnosis and treatment is crucial⁴. The true prevalence and mortality rates of TAAs are difficult to identify but a recent study reported an incidence of 5.9 new aneurysms per 100,000 over a 30-year period, with median ages of 65 years for men and 77 years for women^...