Aorta in reef of coral

case report

Abstract

The coral reef aorta (ARC) is a rare disease, described as hard calcifications involving the arterial wall that protrude into the lumen. It predominantly involves the posterior thoracic and abdominal aorta. Luminal lesions of ARC can cause significant aortic stenosis. Its incidence is estimated at 6:1,000 (0.6%). The symptoms are similar to arterial occlusion, such as intermittent claudication and visceral ischemia, intestinal involvement, weight loss and abdominal pain, hypertension. Treatment is an invasive surgery, most commonly a thromboendarterectomy