What are the symptoms of a thoracic aortic aneurysm?

Pain in the jaw, neck, or upper back.
Pain in the chest or back.
Wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath as a result of pressure on the trachea (windpipe)
Hoarseness as a result of pressure on the vocal cords.
Trouble swallowing due to pressure on the esophagus.

How common are thoracic aortic aneurysms?

Rarely occur Thoracic aortic aneurysms are rare, occurring in approximately 6-10 per every 100,000 people. About 20% of those cases are linked to family history. Your risk is higher if you have certain genetic syndromes (see “Causes” below), as you age, if you smoke and if you have high blood pressure.

What is enlarged thoracic aorta?

A thoracic aortic aneurysm is a weakened area in the major blood vessel that feeds blood to the body (aorta). When the aorta is weak, blood pushing against the vessel wall can cause it to bulge like a balloon (aneurysm).

How long can you live with a thoracic aortic aneurysm?

Patients with AAAs larger than 7.0 cm lived a median of 9 months. A ruptured aneurysm was certified as a cause of death in 36% of the patients with an AAA of 5.5 to 5.9 cm, in 50% of the patients with an AAA of 6 to 7.0 cm, and 55% of the patients with an AAA larger than 7.0 cm.

Can a thoracic aortic aneurysm go away?

Over time, the aneurysm shrinks. In some patients, when stents are not possible, open surgery (requiring an incision in your chest) may be necessary to repair the aneurysm by placing an artificial blood vessel into the aorta to replace the aneurysm.

Where is thoracic aorta located?

chest
The thoracic aorta runs from the aortic arch to the diaphragm, which is the point of separation between the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. It provides blood to the muscles of the chest wall and the spinal cord.

What causes a dilated thoracic aorta?

Thoracic aortic aneurysms are most often caused by atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries that damages the artery’s walls. While your arteries are normally smooth on the inside, as you age they can develop atherosclerosis.

Where does the thoracic aorta end?

The descending thoracic aorta begins at the lower border of the fourth thoracic vertebra and ends in front of the lower border of the twelfth thoracic vertebra, at the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm where it becomes the abdominal aorta.

Where does the thoracic aorta start?

The thoracic (descending) aorta spans from the level of T4 to T12. Continuing from the aortic arch, it initially begins to the left of the vertebral column but approaches the midline as it descends. It leaves the thorax via the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm, and becomes the abdominal aorta.

Is the descending aorta in the thoracic cavity?

The descending thoracic aorta is a part of the aorta located in the thorax. It is the third and last part of the thoracic aorta and is a continuation of the aortic arch. It is located within the posterior mediastinal cavity, but frequently bulges into the left pleural cavity.

How do you live with a thoracic aortic aneurysm?

Living With Aortic Aneurysm

Keep a healthy weight or have a body-mass index (BMI) of less than 30. (Calculate your BMI).
Keep your blood pressure controlled.
Quit smoking, if you do.
Be physically active.
Keep your alcohol intake to at most 1-2 drinks a day.