Asymptomatic thoracoabdominal aortic coarctation

Abstract

Aortic coarctation is a congenital cardiac anomaly consisting of a constricted aortic segment, usually involving the aortic isthmus.1 Coarctation of the distal thoracic aorta and/or the abdominal aorta and its major branches is rare and accounts for 0.5% to 2.0% of coarctations.2,3 These coarctation are most often secondary to Takayasu's disease or aortitis, atherosclerosis, neurocutaneous syndrome, and Williams syndrome. However, no single genesis seems to explain every case and beside vasculitis as a cause; some are thought to be congenital in origin and others are associated with von Recklinghausen's disease.