dissecting aneurysm

Pathology

• occurs when rupture of the arterial intima results in extravasation of blood from the lumen into the vessel wall with separation of different vessel wall layers by extravasated blood
• the lumen of the vessel may be occluded &/or the dissection may extend down the vessel to a branch point where a second intimal tear creates a patent channel for the extravasted blood
• intravascular coagulation may occur within the pathologic lumen

Laboratory

• D-dimer > 500 ng/mL may reflect intravascular coagulation with subsequent fibrinolysis

More general terms

• vascular aneurysm
• arterial dissection

More specific terms

• dissecting aortic aneurysm; aortic dissection (acute aortic syndrome)