This aorta has been opened longitudinally to reveal an area of fairly limited dissection that is organizing. The red-brown thrombus can be seen in on both sides of the section as it extends around the aorta. The intimal tear would have been at the left. This creates a "double lumen" to the aorta. This aorta shows severe atherosclerosis which, along with cystic medial necrosis and hypertension, is a risk factor for dissection.

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