Journal of Clinical Case Reports

Massive Painless Aortic Dissection Masquerade as Lung Cancer with Pneumonia

Abstract

Ruofeng Qiu*, Maria Yusuf and Donald Christmas

We report a patient who presented with productive cough with dyspnea and change of voice who initially diagnosed as pneumonia. Later was found to have upper chest mass causing vocal cord paralysis suspected lung cancer but eventually turned out to be painless aortic dissection causing ortner syndrome. Left vocal cord paralysis is a concerning sign for painless aortic dissection even in patients with elevated risk of lung cancer such as old age and smoking. CT angiogram is usually the to go test in most scenarios, but if not appropriate due to contraindication such as renal dysfunction, ultrasound or MRI can be reliable alternative tests to expedite diagnosis and treatment.