The definite treatment ofaortic disorders goes back to the resection ofisthmic coarctation by Clarence Crafoord in 1944. It took another third of a century until all portionsofthe aortabecameaccessible to highly standardized surgery. This progress, delayed as it was in relation to most other cardiovascular in terventions, depended on the availability of safe protective methods for the heart and central nervous system, of reliable vascular grafts and atraumatic instruments, novel suture material and tissue adhesives. The development ofadvanced surgical techniques went hand in hand with, and depended upon, the emergence of proper diagnostic tools, starting with aortography andultimately culminating inCT-scanning, transesophageal echo cardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. These tools now allow for the rational planning and conductofany aortic intervention which may be surgical or, more recently, catheter-guided. Nienaber's and Fattori's new book aptly is addressing both the diagnos tic procedure as well as the treatment of aortic disease. The authors are well known experts in the fields of advanced diagnostics of aortic pathology, both spearheading a remarkably innovative group of aortic interventionalists as well. On account of their expertise, their chapters are able to answer any question rising in conjunction with these subjects.

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1. Aortic Dissection.- 1.1. Introduction.- 1.2. Definition.- 1.3. Etiology and pathogenesis.- 1.4. Classification.- 1.5. Clinical presentation.- 1.6. Diagnosis.- 1.7. Management of acute aortic dissection.- 1.8. References.- 2. Aortic Aneurysm.- 2.1. Etiology.- 2.2. Pathophysiology.- 2.3. Diagnostic approach.- 2.4. References.- 3. Surgical Treatment of Aortic Aneurysms.- 3.1. Introduction.- 3.2. Pathogenesis and natural history.- 3.3. Diagnosis.- 3.4. Indications for surgery.- 3.5. Surgical techniques.- 3.6. Results.- 3.7. Endovascular stent-grafting of descending thoracic aortic aneurysm.- 3.8. Endovascular stent-grafting of abdominal aortic aneurysm.- 3.9. Summary.- 3.10. References.- 4. Inherited Disorders of the Aorta.- 4.1. Introduction.- 4.2. Single gene disorders.- 4.3. Genetic basis to common aortic diseases.- 4.4. Acknowledgments.- 4.5. References.- 5. Aortic Trauma.- 5.1. Demography and mechanism.- 5.2. Pathology.- 5.3. Clinical presentation.- 5.4. Natural history.- 5.5. Infrequent locations of traumatic aortic lesion.- 5.6. Diagnosis.- 5.7. Acknowledgments.- 5.8. References.- 6. Aortitis.- 6.1. Introduction.- 6.2. Etiology and historical perspective to Takayasu's aortitis.- 6.3. Pathophysiology.- 6.4. Diagnostic procedures.- 6.5. Pathology.- 6.6. Treatment/management.- 6.7. Outcome.- 6.8. Other aortic inflammatory diseases.- 6.9. Conclusion.- 6.10. References.- 7. Etiology and Pathology of the Aortic Arch Malformations.- 7.1. Development of the aortic arch system.- 7.2. Obstructive anomalies of the aortic arch.- 7.3. Other anomalies of the aortic arch.- 7.4. Supravalvular aortic stenosis.- 7.5. Dysplasia of the great arteries [Maccheroni syndrome].- 7.6. Bicuspid aortic valve and aortic dissection.- 7.7. Anatomo-pathologic experience at the Universityof Padua.- 7.8. References.