[Infrarenal aortic ectasia in retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF)].

We analysed the infrarenal aortic morphology by abdominal MR-examinations of 47 RPF patients compared to a control group. A significant larger aortic calibre and higher rates of infrarenal dilatation in male RPF patients were observed. The larger aortic diameter in male RPF patients may be due to periaortic inflammation with resulting aortic ectasia and supports the classification of RPF into the spectrum of chronic periaortitis.