Aortic root abscess. Initial experience using magnetic resonance imaging.

The detection of aortic root abscess by magnetic resonance imaging has not been described previously. We report a patient with an aortic root abscess that was successfully diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. Computed tomography failed to detect the abscess. The patient recovered with antibiotic therapy. Based on this case and other reports in the literature, we advocate treating similar patients without surgery. We recommend magnetic resonance imaging as an investigational method where the diagnosis of aortic root abscess is ambiguous.