Dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm in a young man: an uncommon presentation of abdominal pain

Aortic dissection results from an intimal tear that allows blood to penetrate the wall of the aorta. Patients, typically males over the age of fifty with a history of hypertension, usually present with sudden onset of severe chest pain. An unusual presentation of a dissecting aortic aneurysm as a cause of abdominal pain in a 32-year-old mate is discussed. Although a relatively uncommon cause of abdominal pain, it is important to keep this entity on the list of differential diagnoses and adequately rule it out before discharge from the emergency department. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.