Normal aorta – 27-year-old
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Normal aorta – 27-year-old
- Only part of the aorta is visible on a chest X-ray
- A small part of the ascending aorta may be visible
- The ‘aortic knuckle’ forms a reliable landmark
- The descending aorta forms a straight line to the left of the spine
- Read more about mediastinal contours
Aortic unfolding – 66-year-old
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Aortic unfolding – 66-year-old
- With age the aorta lengthens and appears to buckle or ‘unfold’
- The descending aorta may appear tortuous rather than straight
Aortic unfolding – 99-year-old
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Aortic unfolding – 99-year-old
- Aortic unfolding is not considered pathological but is associated with atherosclerosis
- Calcification of the aorta is seen in this patient
- Compare with aortic aneurysm