Correct!
1. Aortic dissection

The most common cause of blood pressure differing by more than 10 mm Hg in the extremities is compression by a hypertrophied muscle in the young and atherosclerosis in the old (1). However, in this acute situation aortic dissection would be the leading cause of these diffuse changes with multiple arterial emboli as a less possible cause. The thoracic CT scan clearly shows the dissection (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Contrast enhanced thoracic CT scan showing the arterial dissection separating the intimal and medial vascular layers (red arrows).

Which of the following are true regarding aortic dissection? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the fifth and last panel)

1. Aortic dissection can be associated with aortic valve insufficiency
2. Aortic dissection can be associated with Marfan's syndrome
3. Dissections away from the heart may be conservatively managed by blood pressure lowering only
4. Surgical repair is usually required for dissections that involve the aortic arch
5. All of the above

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