About the aorta What is aortic disease? Aortic disease includes anything that leads either to progressive enlargement of the aorta (aneurysm formation) or a tear in the aorta (aortic dissection) Aortic emergencies are responsible for more deaths than prostate cancer. Aortic diseases comprise: Aneurysms (swellings of the aorta which may eventually rupture); Aortic aneurysms are insidious; they cause little in the way of symptoms until it is too late; Aortic diseases may be present from birth or the result of lifestyles; Developmental (present from birth) abnormalities of the aorta and its major branches; In the last 20 years, a modern genetic techniques have identified a number of hereditary syndromes (Marfan's, Ehlers-Danlos, Loeys-Dietz) that predispose to the development of aortic aneurysms in young people; Manage Cookie Preferences