[The problem of aneurysma dissecans in an example of an aorta "pseudoduplex"]

Dissecting aneurysms of the aorta, taking a chronic course are rare. We describe a case of a female patient who died at the age of 75 years. The left intercostal and lumbar arteries and the left renal artery originated from the aneurysmatic cleft in the aortic wall whereas the corresponding right hand-side arteries originated from the proper aortic lumen. The proximal part of the left common carotid artery was compressed by the aneurysm. The dissecting aneurysm extended into the left common and external iliac arteries. It became obvious from the history of the patient and repeated x-rays of the chest, that the aneurysm had existed 35 months before death. Our case is similar to that published by Busse in 1906. No such cases have been published in recent years. This is an indication of the acute fatal outcome of most of the dissecting aneurysms of the aorta.