Aortic dissection - II

This acute dissection is a type A. The top left image shows an area of echymosis and interstitial hemorrhage in the epicardial adipose tissue at the root of the aorta and the pulmonary artery. The hemorrhage extends past the pericardial attachment into the aortic arch and thoracic aorta (yellow dotted line). It also surrounds the pulmonary artery trunk. The image on the top right shows a dorsal view of a coronal section of the heart and aorta. The dissection plane involves the root of the aorta (note the aortic valve (blue dots)). The dissection plane follows the contours of the aorta in a cephalad direction. The intimal tear is highlighted by the white dotted line.

A detailed microscopic view of the findings in acute and chronic dissection of the aorta is shown here.

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