Related Experiment Videos
Motion artifact simulating aortic dissection on CT
M A Burns1, P L Molina, F R Gutierrez
1Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Insights
A new CT scanner can create artifacts mimicking aortic dissection. This double-lumen artifact, caused by motion, appears on a few images and may lead to misdiagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Cardiovascular Imaging
Background:
- Contrast-enhanced CT is crucial for diagnosing aortic dissection.
- New imaging technologies require careful validation to avoid misinterpretation.
Observation:
- Two patients with suspected aortic dissection showed CT findings suggestive of ascending aortic dissection.
- These findings were later determined to be artifactual.
- An identical artifact was found in 18% of 50 contrast-enhanced CT scans on the same new scanner.
Findings:
- A specific double-lumen artifact, mimicking an intimal flap, was identified in the proximal ascending aorta.
- This artifact appeared on only one or two contiguous transaxial images.
- The artifact was not observed on other CT units, suggesting it is scanner-specific.
Implications:
- This artifact can lead to misdiagnosis of aortic dissection.
- Awareness of this motion-induced artifact is crucial for radiologists using this new CT technology.
- Further quality control measures may be needed for rapid-acquisition CT scanners.
Abstract:
We recently imaged two patients clinically suspected of having aortic dissection whose contrast-enhanced CT examinations, obtained on a new scanner with a 1-sec scanning time, showed findings suggesting an ascending aortic dissection. The subsequent clinical course and evaluation implied that the CT findings were predominantly artifactual. We identified identical artifacts in 18% of 50 consecutive contrast-enhanced CT examinations performed for a variety of indications on the same scanner. The double-lumen artifact, simulating an intimal flap, occurs in the proximal ascending aorta and is limited to one or two contiguous transaxial images. The artifact was not detected on two other CT units. We believe the artifact arises from motion of the aortic wall and the surrounding pericardial recesses during image acquisition.