Transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation of aortitis.

Aortitis is an uncommon infection which may occur in patients with preexisting atherosclerotic disease of the aorta. The clinical features in two patients presenting with fever and nonspecific symptoms are reviewed. In these patients, transesophageal echocardiographic features of wall thickening and false aneurysm formation were suggestive of the diagnosis of aortitis. Both patients were taken for surgical excision of the descending aorta and subsequently improved.