CTICasesPseudocoarctation of the Aorta (Kinked Aorta)
▶ Watch on YouTube — age-restricted, cannot embed here
Imaging findings
Contrast-enhanced CT demonstrates a focal, severe narrowing of the proximal descending thoracic aorta, just distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery, with mild post-stenotic dilatation. Sagittal oblique reformats beautifully illustrate the classic "kinked" appearance of a high-riding aortic arch with elongation and a sharp angulation at the site of the ligamentum arteriosum.
Key takeaways
Pseudocoarctation of the aorta, or "kinked aorta," is a benign congenital anomaly characterized by elongation and tortuosity of the aortic arch, often fixed by a short ligamentum arteriosum. Unlike true coarctation, there is typically no significant pressure gradient across the obstruction (usually less than 10 mmHg), and collateral vessels are absent, though patients remain at a slightly higher risk for localized atherosclerosis or dissection.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Pulmonary MALT LymphomaNeoplastic
- Erdheim-Chester DiseaseNeoplastic
- Alveolar SarcoidosisAutoimmune
- Bony SarcoidosisAutoimmune
- Cardiac AmyloidosisMetabolic
- Senile (ATTR) Pulmonary Amyloidosis with Cystic Lung DiseaseMetabolic
- Pulmonary Amyloidosis with Cystic Lung Disease in Sjögren Syndrome and MALT LymphomaAutoimmune
- Uncharacterized Pulmonary Amyloidosis with Cystic Lung DiseaseMetabolic
See all cases from June 27, 2014 →