Incidental detection of late presenting co-arctation of the aorta on chest x-ray: the importance of rib notching

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Jan 23:2012:bcr1220115347. doi: 10.1136/bcr.12.2011.5347.

Abstract

A 31-year-old obese male presented to the emergency department with symptoms and signs suggestive of a viral upper respiratory tract illness with a background of low exercise tolerance. Rib notching was identified on plain film chest radiography and subsequent CT of the thorax identified a moderately tight 2-mm juxta-ductal co-arctation of the aorta with multiple enlarged chest wall collaterals. The patient underwent a two-stage percutaneous procedure involving stent insertion and angioplasty up to 16 mm with significant improvement in exercise capacity and a modest reduction in blood pressure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary
  • Aortic Coarctation / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aortic Coarctation / surgery*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Male
  • Obesity / complications
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Ribs / diagnostic imaging
  • Stents
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed