Healed Dissecting Aneurysm in Cystic Medial Necrosis of the Aorta

Dissecting aneurysm of the aorta is a not uncommon disease that usually produces severe symptoms and often leads to an early death. This article reports an unusual case in which the patient was nearly asymptomatic and died of unrelated causes. Autopsy revealed a healed dissecting aneurysm. The literature on dissecting aneurysm, emphasizing its pathogenesis and its relation to cystic medial necrosis, is briefly reviewed.