Image diagnosis: Sudden paraplegia in abdominal aortic thrombosis.

A 79-year-old woman with a medical history of hypertension and cardiac surgery for mitral valve repair was seen in the Emergency Department after falling to the floor in her bedroom. Acute abdominal aortic occlusion is an uncommon condition frequently resulting from saddle embolism or thrombus of an atherosclerotic plaque. Sudden neurologic symptoms can occur.