An easy miss: aortic dissection in a 'healthy' male.

Aortic dissection is an uncommon cause of chest discomfort that can be rapidly fatal without early diagnosis and prompt treatment. In this report, we present a man with no risk factors who presented with chest discomfort not typical of a dissection, absent pulse and blood pressure differential and a normal chest radiograph. He eventually was diagnosed with an extensive Type-A aortic dissection. We discuss diagnostic clues, classification of aortic dissection and possible treatment options.