PAINLESS ACUTE AORTIC DISSECTION PRESENTING AS LEFT LOWER-EXTREMITY NUMBNESS

Acute aortic dissection may have variable presentations, making the di agnosis clinically challenging. Acute neurologic syndromes secondary t o dissection of the aorta are uncommon. However, including aortic diss ection in the differential diagnosis is imperative. This report descri bes the first reported case of an acute thoracic aortic dissection pre senting with the chief complaint of unilateral lower extremity numb ne ss. Peripheral ischemic neuropathy as the result of vascular occlusion is uncommon. The pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of ische mic neuropathies in the setting of acute aortic dissection are discuss ed.