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Acute dissection of the aorta: which test?
1University of Melbourne, Department of Radiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria.
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery
|August 1, 1989
Summary
Dynamic CT scans are recommended for diagnosing acute aortic dissection. This imaging technique confidently identifies the presence, absence, and type (A or B) of dissection in patients.
Area of Science:
- Radiology and Medical Imaging
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Clinicians have multiple imaging options for suspected acute aortic dissection.
- Advancements in computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer new diagnostic tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of dynamic CT in diagnosing acute aortic dissection.
- To determine the optimal initial imaging strategy for suspected aortic dissection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 42 patients referred for suspected aortic dissection over 4.5 years.
- Analysis of diagnostic accuracy for dynamic CT scans.
Main Results:
- Twenty out of 42 patients were diagnosed with acute aortic dissection.
- Dynamic CT accurately determined the presence or absence of dissection.
- Dynamic CT reliably classified dissection types as Type A or Type B.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic CT is a reliable and recommended first-line investigation for suspected acute aortic dissection.
- This imaging modality provides confident diagnosis of dissection and its specific type.