Abstract
Isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is rare. There is no consensus about medical treatment for this disease. We studied nine cases with isolated SMA dissection diagnosed at our hospital between 1995 and 2008.
All were male. The average age was 56.8 years. Eight patients were diagnosed by CT, and one by MRI. Eight patients were smokers, and five had hypertension. Four cases had SMA dissection with a thrombotic false lumen, while the other five had a persistent false lumen. All cases were well managed with conservative therapy including antihypertensive, anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs.
Conservative therapy is generally useful for this disease. Thus, the prognosis may be relatively good. More meticulous and longer observation is needed in cases of SMA dissection with persistent false lumen than in cases with a thrombotic false lumen.
