Typical dissecting aneurysms of the aorta are recognized as having two or more tears, entry and reentry in the intimal layer, and a longitudinally dissect ing lumen in the medial layer. Atypical dissecting aneurysms, with only a single tear and a narrow dissecting lumen, also occur. Persistent hypertension and severe back and/or abdominal pain are usually the presenting symptoms. This paper discusses 7 atypical cases of aortic dissection. There were 6 males and 1 female, between the ages of forty-nine and seventy years of age, with the mean age of 61.8 years. The sites of the aortic dissection varied. One was found in the aortic arch, two in the descending thoracic aorta, two across a portion of the diaphragm, and two at the celiac axis origin. All 7 patients were treated with antihypertensive medication soon after the onset of symptoms. Five of the pa tients were then treated surgically, 2 with resection and graft replacement, and 3 with direct suture repair of the dissection. The 2 remaining patients were managed conservatively on antihypertensive medication.
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