[Comparative study of transthoracic Doppler echocardiogram, computed tomography and aortography in the diagnosis of thoracic aortic dissection].
OBJECTIVE
Comparative and prospective evaluation of three methods (transthoracic echo-Doppler (TTE), computerized tomography (CT) and aortography (AORT) utilized for aortic dissection diagnosis.


METHODS
The 39 patients with confirmed aortic dissection (surgery or autopsy) underwent, within a few hours of each other, all three methods scrutinized. There were 19 cases of type A and 20 of type B dissection.


RESULTS
In type A dissection the methods were equivalent (TTE = 73.7%, CT = 84.2%, AORT = 73.7% p = NS) but for type B, TTE was significantly inferior to the other two methods (TTE = 60%, TC 90%, AORT = 80%, p < 0.05 for TTE, for TC and AORT p = NS). In three occasions, even though all three methods were performed, the diagnosis was not obtained.


CONCLUSIONS
The methods which were evaluated make the diagnosis in the majority of cases. In type A all methods are similar, however, in type B, TC and AORT are superior to TTE. Even performing all three methods in each patient, in three instances the diagnosis was not made.
Carvalho
A C
AC
Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo.
Almeida
D R
DR
Campos Filho
O
O
Gianotti
I
I
Novo
N F
NF
de Souza
J A
JA
Alves
C R
CR
Azevedo
J E
JE
Moura
L A
LA
Palma
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001027:Aortography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Estudo comparativo do ecocardiograma Dopller transtorácico, tomografia computadorizada e aortografia no diagnóstico de dissecção da aorta torácica.