Multi-detector computed tomography findings of atypical blunt traumatic aortic injuries: a pictorial review

Traumatic injuries to the aorta are a significant source of morbidity and mortality in trauma patients, which highlights the importance of rapid diagnosis and treatment. Multi-detector row computed tomography has become the primary imaging modality for the imaging assessment of the polytrauma patient because it is fast, noninvasive, and the data sets can be used to create tailored multi-planar reformatted images that optimally display the location and morphology of aortic trauma and its relationship to adjacent structures. Although the classic location of blunt injury to the aorta occurs just distal to the left subclavian artery, aortic injuries may occur at any location along the aorta and in any patient population. Radiologists should be prepared to evaluate these types of injuries in nontraditional planes that are tailored to each examination and to present the data to clinicians using commercially available 3D software for purposes of surgical planning. Here, we review in pictorial form atypical aortic injuries with emphasis on multi-planar reformations.