Thoracic aortic disease includes aortic aneurysms and dissections atherosclerotic disease infections and traumatic injuries ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections represent life threatening emergencies that require immediate medical attention thoracic aortic aneurysms affect approximately 15000 people in the united states each year. In addition to coronary and peripheral artery diseases aortic diseases contribute to the wide spectrum of arterial diseases aortic aneurysms acute aortic syndromes aas including aortic dissection ad intramural haematoma imh penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer pau and traumatic aortic injury tai pseudoaneurysm aortic rupture atherosclerotic and inflammatory affections as well as genetic diseases eg marfan syndrome and congenital abnormalities including the coarctation of . Acute syndromes of the thoracic aorta include aortic dissection intramural hematoma and penetrating ulcers acute aortic dissection commonly presents with acute onset chest or back pain and can mimic many other cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions such as angina myocardial infarction pulmonary embolism or pneumonia. Thoracic aortic diseases represents an ambitious undertaking by a large number of highly respected international specialists in aortic pathologies with the purpose of providing information on the acquired and genetic basis of aortic diseases as well as a global perspective on therapeutic alternatives the new concept of a team approach with surgeons working together with both interventional