Spontaneous nontraumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta: Report of a case

Spontaneous nontraumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta is a very rare, life -threatening condition for which emergency diagnostic and therapeutic measu res are indicated. The patient reported herein suffered a spontaneous ruptu re of the thoracic descending aorta through an atheromatous plaque without aneurysmal formation. When acute intrapericardial, mediastinal, or intraple ural bleeding develops without any evidence of aortic aneurysm or dissectio n, the possibility of spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta should be c onsidered in the differential diagnosis, and appropriate emergency surgery may be life-saving.