[Imaging in acute aortic syndrome: not just dissection]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Radiology
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Acute aortic syndrome encompasses aortic dissection (AD), intramural hematoma (IMH), and penetrating aortic ulcers (PAU).
• These conditions are life-threatening, necessitating rapid diagnosis and treatment.
• While AD imaging is well-established, IMH and PAU imaging findings, prognoses, and management strategies are less recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and discuss the imaging findings of IMH and PAU.
• To highlight the role of imaging techniques in diagnosing and managing IMH and PAU.
• To elucidate the prognostic implications of IMH and PAU based on imaging characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies focusing on imaging modalities for IMH and PAU.
• Analysis of imaging characteristics associated with IMH and PAU.
• Discussion of the impact of imaging findings on clinical management and treatment strategies.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of characteristic imaging findings for IMH and PAU across various modalities (e.g., CT, MRI, TEE).
• Comparison of imaging features differentiating IMH and PAU from classical AD.
• Emphasis on how specific imaging findings influence therapeutic decisions and patient prognosis.

Conclusions:

• Imaging plays a critical role in the early and accurate diagnosis of IMH and PAU.
• Understanding the nuances of IMH and PAU imaging is crucial for appropriate patient management.
• Further research into advanced imaging techniques may improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic guidance for these conditions.