Does This Study Make My Aorta Look Fat?

A trip to the mall can rapidly become a nightmare with the question "does this [garment] make my [anatomical part] look fat?" An affirmative answer risks grueling days in the dog-house. A negative answer invites intense scrutiny for evidence of insincerity. Diplomacy dictates a measured approach of watchful waiting, preferably from a safe distance out of earshot. However, this adverse event in a relationship pales into insignificance compared to a sudden rupture or dissection of the thoracic aorta. The incidence of acute aortic events is about 1% of the rate of myocardial infarction, but at least one-half of patients die suddenly - frequently before reaching a hospital1. These figures are only rough estimates, because in the era of low autopsy rates, many cases of sudden death due to acute aortic events are probably attributed to acute coronary syndromes.