Endovascular management of a spontaneous dissecting aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery: case report and discussion of treatment options.

Spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery represents a rare cause of abdominal angina. Conservative or more aggressive treatments such as surgery or endovascular therapy depend on the symptoms. We present a case report of acute mesenteric ischemia due to spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery successfully treated by endovascular stent placement. In the discussion we review the different alternatives of treatment presented in the literature.