Chris Wilcox will undergo aortic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on March 29, and will miss the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

A team of leading cardiac specialists who consulted with Wilcox and the Celtics indicated that surgery should completely repair Wilcox’s condition and that he can expect to resume his NBA career next season.

Wilcox has long had an aortic abnormality that remained stable throughout his 10-year NBA career. However, as a precautionary measure, the Celtics medical staff scheduled frequent aortic scans for Wilcox, and a recent scan showed a significant enlargement of his aorta. After several follow-up tests, doctors recommended surgery.

“While we are saddened that Chris will not be able to play again this season, the most important thing is his health, and we were fortunate to have access to an amazing team of specialists to evaluate Chris’s case,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “The entire Celtics family supports Chris during this difficult time in his career.”