Journal of Vascular Medicine & Surgery

Abstract

Unexpected Giant Cell Arteritis and Aorta Aneurysm

Gouveia RH, Ramos S, Koukoulis G and Neves JP

Aorta Aneurysms may range from asymptomatic to disabling or even fatal, thus requiring adequate and timely therapeutic approach. The aging of industrialized countries’ population, due to the rise of life-expectancy, increased the degenerative causes of aneurysms. Yet, it is of major importance to search for other underlying pathologies; which, in the case of Giant Cell Aortitis may be diagnostic of an immunologic disorder with systemic involvement. Histopathological examination of surgical and/or post-mortem aorta specimens plays a relevant role in the etiopathogenic diagnosis. Unexpected extra-cranial involvement, namely of the aorta, may be diagnostic of Giant Cell Arteritis (Horton’s Disease) and performed on histopathological examination of surgical and/or post-mortem specimens.