[Haustration of the ascending aorta as differential diagnosis of aortic dissection]

Suspected aortic dissection requires undelayed diagnosis by use of imaging modalities such as transesophageal ultrasound, contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This case report describes an asymptomatic man with echocardiographic suspicion of aortic arch dissection. The discordance with the clinical presentation led to CT, MRI, and eventually to contrast angiography, eventually confirming extensive haustration of the thoracic aorta and excluding any acute or chronic dissection. This case demonstrates haustration of the thoracic aorta as a potential differential diagnostic problem when solely using ultrasound techniques.