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Renal infarct secondary to aortic dissection

Case contributed by Ayaz Hidayatov
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Acute left flank pain. No past medical history or any surgical/interventional procedures.

Patient Data

Age: 40 years
Gender: Male

Aortic dissection extending into abdominal aorta, celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery (SMA). The left renal artery arises from the false lumen. Absent contrast enhancement of most of the left kidney consistent with an acute renal infarction. Left lower renal pole enhances, being supplied by an accessory renal artery arising from the true lumen. 

Case Discussion

Aortic dissection is a longitudinal partition in the media of the aorta. Intimal tear creates a true and a false lumen. Typically in aortic dissection true lumen is lined by tunica intima, and the false lumen is lined by tunica media. 

Typical CT findings in acute dissection are an intimal flap separating two aortic channels and intramural hematoma. 

In some cases, aortic branch vessel occlusion may cause mesenteric, renal, and in rare cases, limb ischemia to be the initial manifestation of aortic dissection.

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