Descending aortic dissection

What it means

A separation of the layers within the wall of the descending aorta. Tears in the intimal layer result in the propagation of dissection (proximally or distally) secondary to blood entering the intima-media space.

According to the Stanford classification, type B aortic dissection begins beyond brachiocephalic vessels (begins distal to the left subclavian artery).

Rare diseases that can present with this2

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Type B aortic dissection