What Cardiologists Should Know About Aortic Pathology

What Cardiologists Should Know About Aortic Pathology

Guest: Melanie Bois, M.D.

Host: Malcom Bell, M.D.

Is all aortic disease the same?  In this episode, Dr. Melanie Bois reviews the major diagnostic categories of aortic disease and how they influence patient management, including surgical decision-making, surveillance, and genetic evaluation. The discussion involves the causes of heritable thoracic aortic aneurysms and highlights how pathology findings can provide important clues to underlying genetic syndromes. Finally, Dr. Bois outlines the spectrum of inflammatory aortic diseases and explore key differential diagnoses that help distinguish immune-mediated, infectious, and degenerative processes.

Topics Discussed:

• Are there special diagnostic considerations for the ascending versus descending aorta? What causes aneurysmal dilatation in the ascending aorta?
• How does the underlying cause impact management?
• What should I be looking for in the pathology report?

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LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services

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Podcast episode transcript found here.

Recorded on: 28-January-2026