Additional information
by William C. Roberts (Author)
This volume collects 11 articles on aortic syphilis written by Dr. William C. Roberts and colleagues between 2009 and 2022. It is part of a series of collected reprints on various topics published in 2023.
From the Preface:
If the sinus portion of the ascending aorta is of normal size and the tubular portion of the ascending aorta is diffusely dilated (>5 cm) and neither an acute nor healed aortic dissection is present in the ascending aorta, the diagnosis is usually aortic syphilis. If the intima of the operatively excised aorta is 100% abnormal, the aortic wall is thicker than normal because of diffuse thickening of the intima and adventitia, and focal collections of plasmacytes and lymphocytes are present in the adventitia, a diagnosis of aortic syphilis is confirmed. Aortic syphilis has not disappeared. It is important to diagnose this condition so that proper antibiotic therapy can be administered in the postoperative period to delay or prevent the occurrence of neurologic syphilis. Often the serologic test for syphilis is negative in patients with aortic syphilis.
-William C. Roberts, MD
