Development of the aorta takes place during the third week of gestation. It is a complex process that can lead to a variety of congenital variants and pathological anomalies. In diagnostic and interventional radiology, knowledge of aortic abnormalities and variant branching sequence is crucially important. This article gives a systematic overview of anatomical variability of the aorta. KEYWORDS: Thoracic aorta, embryology, anatomical variantsObjectives: Upon completion of this article, the reader should (1) understand the development of the thoracic aorta and great vessels, and (2) understand the anatomical and pathological conditions that require consideration when treating diseases of the thoracic aorta. Development of the aorta takes place during the third week of gestation.1 It is a complex process associated with the formation of the endocardial tube (day 21), which lends itself to a variety of congenital variants. Each primitive aorta consists of a ventral and a dorsal segment that are continuous through the first aortic arch. The two ventral aortae fuse to form the aortic sac. The dorsal aortae fuse to form the midline descending aorta. Six paired aortic arches, the so-called branchial arch arteries, develop between the ventral and dorsal aortae. In addition, the dorsal aorta gives off several intersegmental arteries (Fig. 1).The vessels derived from each arch are as follows: The first pair contributes to formation of the maxillary and external carotid arteries. The second pair contributes to formation of the stapedial arteries. The third aortic arch constitutes the commencement of the internal carotid artery and is therefore named the carotid arch.Proximal segments of the third pair form the common carotid arteries. Together with segments of the dorsal aortae, the distal portions contribute to formation of the internal carotid arteries. The left arch of the fourth pair forms the segment of normal left aortic arch between the left common carotid and subclavian arteries. The right fourth arch forms the proximal right subclavian artery. The distal right subclavian artery is derived from a portion of the right dorsal aorta and the right seventh intersegmental artery. Rudimentary vessels that regress early develop out of the fifth pair. The left arch of the sixth pair contributes to the formation of the main and left pulmonary arteries and ductus arteriosus; this duct obliterates a few days after birth. The right sixth arch contributes to formation of the right pulmonary artery. 2With the caudad migration of the heart in the second fetal month, the seventh intersegmental arteries enlarge and migrate cephalad to form the distal subclavian

Funding informationDr Marcel Razpotnik received for the cirrhotic cardiomyopathy project a promotional award for young investigators from the Austrian Society of Ultrasonography (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin -ÖGUM).

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon tumor that arises from the dermis of adults. Its malignant potential is considered to be intermediate. Because the diagnosis of DFSP can frequently be suspected on the basis of physical examination reports on its sonographic appearance are rare. We report a case that highlights the value of sonography in assessing the subcutaneous extent of DFSP.

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Ultrasonography (US) has become the method of choice for imaging in diseases affecting the scrotum. With the development of high resolution transducers using colour Doppler and pulsed Doppler, it is now possible to make accurate diagnoses. Sonography is able to distinguish immediately between intra- and extratesticular lesions. It is also possible to differentiate between cystic and solid tumours. Solid testicular tumours may be detected without difficulty and thus the patient's dignity is practically assured (98 % of solid testicular tumours are malignant). In cases of acute diseases of the scrotum, sonography nearly always permits a differentiation between torsion and inflammation, thus avoiding the risk of unnecessary operations. The review covers the introduction, anatomy, the scanning protocol for scrotal ultrasound and pathological changes. Testicular tumours and torsion are discussed in detail. Variations from the norm and pitfalls are outlined so as to help avoid making misdiagnoses.