Aortic intramural haematoma: remarks and conclusions.

A ortic intramural haematoma (IMH) originates from spontaneous rupture of the aorta vasavasorum or from a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer. Recent advances in imaging techniques have significantly aided its diagnosis, placing the incidence between 10–30% of acute aortic syndromes. Clinical presentation may be identical to that of classical dissection. IMH affects patients with more atherosclerotic risk factors and older age than aortic dissection, and it is located in the descending aorta in 60–70% of cases.