Epidemiology of thoracic aortic dissection

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is the progressive separation of the layers of the thoracic aortic wall; this condition is strongly related to excessive dilatation of the aorta and is associated with very high mortality. The authors of this article present an in-depth review of the incidence, demographic distribution, and factors associated with TAD and related thoracic aortic syndromes, as well as a discussion of the challenges involved in assessing the epidemiology of these conditions.