[Preoperative assessment of aortic dissection by three-dimensional CT angiography]

In 21 patients with aortic dissection including 12 patients with acute aortic dissection, aortic lesions were evaluated preoperatively by newly developed three-dimensional CT angiography (3 D-CTA) using helical scan CT. Rapid and safe three-dimensional evaluation of aortic dissection was achieved with no complications. Three-dimensional structure of aortic dissection was well reflected in the image of 3D-CTA. Preoperative three-dimensional evaluation was useful to determine and proceed the operative procedure for the repair of aortic dissection. All patients were alive and results of surgical treatments were excellent. Intimal flaps and entries were visualized by multiple threshold display (MTD) method of 3D-CTA. Multiple threshold display method is an important three-dimensional reconstructive method and 3D-CTA may be a new useful and powerful diagnostic modality for aortic dissection.