320-slice CT angiography of an interrupted aortic arch patient relying on collaterals: An addition to classification criteria.

A 13-year-old female patient presented with chest pain had no history of heart disease or trauma. She was finally diagnosed with the interrupted aortic arch by 320-slice CT angiography, without intracardial malformations or patent ductus arteriosus. Her descending aortic blood was supplied by plentiful collateral circulation on the chest. According to literature reports, patients with complete interruption of the aortic arch rarely live 10 years without surgical intervention. More particularly, this case does not fit the current classification systems.