Acute aortic dissection presenting as crossed neurological symptoms: a case report

Aortic dissection can present with a wide variety of symptoms depending on the transient arterial occlusion during propagation of the dissection. Neurological manifestation, including hemiplegia, paralysis, paraplegia, and monoplegia, have been reported previously. However, crossed neuropathy has never been found. In this case report, we present the case of a 14-year-old girl who presented with right upper limb numbness and weakness together with persistent left lower extremity weakness, which mimicked peripheral polyneuropathy. The patient was finally diagnosed with arterial dissection but unfortunately died. Aortic dissection can be easily misdiagnosed as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS); this case emphasizes the importance of identifying atypical neurological manifestations of aortic dissection. Early identification and timely treatment are crucial for improving survival rates and prognosis.