Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A unique case is described of a 64-year-old white woman who had silent thromboembolic occlusion of the right pulmonary artery. Over the ensuing months, severe pulmonary hypertension developed, as manifested by marked dilatation and atherosclerosis of the right and left pulmonary arteries and severe right ventricular hypertrophy. Nevertheless, she remained fully ambulatory and felt generally well throughout this time. Eventually, however, the pulmonary arteries became so dilated that they compressed the recurrent laryngeal nerve as it looped under the aortic arch, and it was the resulting hoarseness that first caused the patient to seek medical attention. A work-up disclosed normal peripheral lung fields on x-ray study and a large dense right hilar mass. Accordingly, the patient was subjected to an exploratory thoracotomy on the reasonable but mistaken diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma. After the following operation, her condition deteriorated. She developed bronchopneumonia which, when superimposed on her already precariously reduced cardiopulmonary function, precipitated respiratory insufficiency. An independent stroke was the immediate cause of death.
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PMID:Silent, chronic, massive pulmonary thromboembolism masquerading as bronchogenic carcinoma. 96 90

An autopsy case of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) dissecting aneurysm due to atherosclerosis was reported. A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaints of hoarseness and a pulsatile mass below the left mandibular angle. Neurological examination showed no obvious deficits except left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Angiography revealed narrowing of the original segment of left ICA with dissection and aneurysmal dilation at the level of C3 vertebra. Seven days after admission, the patient had a sudden onset of consciousness disturbance. The second angiography showed no obvious changes compared with the first findings except slight narrowing in the distal portion above the aneurysmal dilation. The possible mechanism was thought to be recanalization following transient occlusion of the left ICA caused by extension of dissection or intracranial embolism due to a thrombus within the aneurysm. He was managed conservatively, but unfortunately he died of pneumonia. Macroscopic autopsy showed that the aneurysm was fusiform. Histologically, it demonstrated dissection of the hematoma between the media and adventitia layer. Hemorrhage in the atheromatous plaque with disruption of the elastic lamina were observed along with severe degenerative changes of the intima, media and, in part, adventitia layer due to atherosclerosis. In addition, a dissecting aneurysm of the right iliac artery and severe arteriosclerosis were observed in the systemic arteries. On the basis of these findings, the dissecting aneurysm presumably developed after disruption of a weak portion of the atherosclerotic wall, where intraplaque hemorrhage occurred earlier. We suggest that atherosclerosis be regarded as one of the pathogenic factors capable of causing dissecting aneurysm of the extracranial ICA in elderly patients.
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PMID:[Autopsied case of an extracranial internal carotid artery dissecting aneurysm]. 1100 95

An aortic disease patient is typically an older male with a history of atherosclerosis and hypertension. He might have Marfanoid characteristics, a history of cocaine or methamphetamine abuse or history of syphilis. Alternatively, suspect dissection in a pregnant female with complaints consistent with possible aortic problems. During your assessment, zero in on the patient's anatomy. Include aortic phenomena in your differential for chest and back pain. Take blood pressures in both arms. Search the abdomen for pulsatile masses, and be wary of hoarseness and Horner's syndrome.
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PMID:If the bubble bursts.... EMS response to aortic aneurysms & dissections. 1184 62

We successfully treated two patients with chronic traumatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. The first, a 40-year-old man involved in an automobile accident 24 years earlier, was treated by thoracic aorta graft replacement via left thoracotomy under femoro-femoral partial bypass. The second, a 57-year-old man with a 3-month history of hoarseness who had suffered blunt chest trauma 17 years earlier, was treated similarly. Both had a calcified pseudoaneurysm at the isthmus of the descending aorta, but neither had atherosclerosis other than at the aneurysm site. They have done well after surgery. We believe chronic traumatic thoracic aneurysm at the aortic isthmus should be treated surgically soon after diagnosis because elective surgery presents low risk of morbidity and mortality.
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PMID:Successful surgical treatment of chronic traumatic thoracic aneurysm in two patients. 1238 4

Intrathoracic segment of the subclavian artery is an unusual location for peripheral arterial aneurysms. They are normally caused by atherosclerosis, medial degeneration, trauma, and infection. We report a case of a patient with right subclavian artery aneurysm presenting with hoarseness. Chest radiograph demonstrated a superior mediastinal mass. Laryngoscopy showed a fixed right vocal cord. By chest computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography, preoperative diagnosis was established as a saccular aneurysm with afferent loop and efferent loop. Patient underwent complete resection of the aneurysm followed by endto-end anastomosis via median sternotomy. Postoperative pathology was consistent with an atherosclerotic aneurysm filled with thrombus. After surgical operation, hoarseness is still continued.
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PMID:Intrathoracic aneurysm of the right subclavian artery presenting with hoarseness: a case report. 1610 Apr 64

Most cranial nerve compression syndromes (ie, trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm) are caused by small arteries impinging on a nerve and are relieved by microvascular decompression. Rarely, cranial nerve compression syndromes can be caused by large artery impingement and can be relieved by macrovascular decompression. When present, this compression often occurs in association with degenerative atherosclerosis in the vertebral arteries (VA) and basilar artery. Conservative treatment is recommended for mild forms, but surgical transposition of the VA away from the root entry zone (REZ) can be considered. This video demonstrates macrovascular decompression of a dolichoectatic VA in a 74-yr-old female with refractory left hemifacial spasm. After obtaining IRB approval, patient consent was sought for the procedure. With the patient in three-quarter-prone position, a far-lateral craniotomy was performed. The dentate ligament was cut to free the VA, and the suprahypoglossal portion of the vagoaccessory triangle was widened. VA compressed the REZ of the facial nerve, but was mobilized anteromedially off the REZ. A muslin sling was wrapped around the VA and its tail brought down to the clival dura, which was punctured with a 19-gauge needle and enlarged with a dissector. The sling was pulled anteromedially to this puncture site and secured to the dura with an aneurysm clip, relieving the REZ of all compression. The patient tolerated the procedure with mild, transient hoarseness and her hemifacial spasm resolved completely. This case demonstrates the macrovascular decompression technique with anteromedial transposition of the vertebrobasilar artery, which can also be used for trigeminal neuralgia.
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PMID:Macrovascular Decompression of Facial Nerve With Anteromedial Transposition of a Dolichoectatic Vertebral Artery: 3-Dimensional Operative Video. 2978 54

First described in 1936, the diverticulum of Kommerell (DOK) is a dilatation of the proximal segment of an aberrant subclavian artery. Appearing more frequently in the left-sided aortic arch, the aberrant right subclavian artery passes behind the esophagus toward the right arm, causing symptoms in the minority of cases. Diagnosis is generally incidental with this pattern. When symptomatic, dysphagia, respiratory symptoms, hoarseness, chest pain, and upper limb ischemia are the most common complaints. Although debatable, the origin of DOK is accepted as being degenerative or congenital. The degenerative condition is normally associated with atherosclerosis and occurs more frequently after the age of 50 years with no gender predominance. Complications may be life threatening and are more commonly related to the diverticulum aneurysm or when associated with aortic diseases such as aneurysms or dissection. The authors present a case of a 67-year-old male with a history of acute chest pain, neurological disturbances, and hypertensive crisis. The diagnostic workup revealed an aortic arch aneurysm with intramural hematoma and a diverticulum aneurysm of Kommerell. Treatment was conservative at first. The patient presented a satisfactory outcome and was referred to an outpatient clinic for follow up and further therapeutic consolidation.
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PMID:Aortic aneurysm and diverticulum of Kommerell: a dreadful concomitance. 3152 87