Inflammatory diseases of the aorta.

Inflammatory aortic diseases may occur with and without dilatation and are complicated by obstruction, rupture and dissection. Infections originate from periaortic foci or septicaemia and tend to result in the rapid development of aneurysms. Large vessel vasculitis due to Takayasu arteritis in younger and giant cell arteritis (GCA) in older patients is located in all layers of the aortic wall and prevails in the thoracic section.