Headaches and back pain

Meredith S. Byers, MD

From the Department of Radiology, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Corresponding author: Meredith S. Byers, MD, Department of Radiology, Baylor University Medical Center, 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75246.

A 39-year-old woman consulted her physician because of headaches and back pain. Physical examination revealed a systolic ejection murmur and decreased pulses in both legs. She had a history of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Radiographic and imaging studies are shown below (Figures 1-4).

DIAGNOSIS: Coarctation of the aorta.

(BUMC Proceedings 2001;14:447-448)