title: Aortic dissection: review of value and limitations of two-dimensional echocardiography in a six-year experience.
abstract: The utility of transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography in patients with aortic dissection was assessed by retrospective analysis in 67 patients: 31 patients with DeBakey type I, 21 patients with type II, 10 patients with type III, and five patients with false-positive diagnoses. Aortic dissection was correctly identified by two-dimensional echocardiography in 49 patients; 13 had false-negative diagnoses. Therefore the sensitivity was 79%, and the positive predictive accuracy was 91%. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography is a reasonable screening technique for diagnosis of aortic dissection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Khandheria
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tajik
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Safford
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stanson
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sinak
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Seward
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001027:Aortography; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity