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. 2015:2015:626825.
doi: 10.1155/2015/626825. Epub 2015 May 6.

Temporoparietal Headache as the Initial Presenting Symptom of a Massive Aortic Dissection

Manan Parikh  1 , Abhinav Agrawal  1 , Braghadheeswar Thyagarajan  1 , Sayee Sundar Alagusundaramoorthy  1 , James Martin  2
Affiliations

Temporoparietal Headache as the Initial Presenting Symptom of a Massive Aortic Dissection

Manan Parikh et al. Case Rep Emerg Med. 2015.

Abstract

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical emergency often presenting with severe chest pain and acute hemodynamic compromise. The presentation of aortic dissection can sometimes be different thus leading to a challenge in prompt diagnosis and treatment as demonstrated by the following presentation and discussion. We present a case of a 71-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with complaints of left sided temporoparietal headache and was eventually diagnosed with a thoracic aortic dissection involving the ascending aorta and descending aorta, with an intramural hematoma in the descending aorta. This case illustrates the importance of keeping in mind aortic dissection as a differential diagnosis in patients with acute onset headaches in which any intracranial source of headache is not found.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
EKG showing sinus bradycardia with nonspecific ST-T wave abnormalities.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chest X-ray showing prominence of thoracic aorta, no acute pulmonary disease.
Figure 3
Figure 3
CT scan with contrast showing a thoracic aortic dissection involving the ascending aorta and descending aorta, with an intramural hematoma in the descending aorta. (a)–(d) show coronal sections at different levels.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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