Aortic Dissection ; Chest Radiograph-CT Correlation

Jeong Soo Suh

Copyright ⓒ 1997. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Jul 24, 2015

Abstract

Objective

To correlate findings of chest radiograph with those of CT scan in aortic dissection.

Method

We retrospectively analyzed findings of chest radiograph and CT scan of 10 aortic dissection patients(for men and six women ; aged 51-79 years old(mean 64 years)) and correlate findings of chest radiograph with those of CT scan.

Results

Chest radiograph showed abnormal findings in nine cases(90%) with widening of wuperior mediastinum in nine(90%), disparity in size of ascending and descending aorta in four (40%), change in aortic configuration between successive examination in three (30%), bilateral pleural effusion in one(10%), and cardiomegaly in five(50%). CT scan showed atherosclerotic effusion in two(20%), pericardial effusion in one(10%), and mediastinal hematoma in two(20%). All patients with widening of superior mediastinum on chest radiograph showed aneurysm of ascending aorta and/or aortic arch on CT scan.

Conclusion

Chest radiograph is usually abnormal and the most common finding is wdening of superior mediastinum caused by aneurysm of ascending aorta and/or aortic arch. But normal chest radiograph may be observed in aortic dissection with mild degree aneurysm

Keywords: Aorta; CT aorta; Dissection