title: Thoracic aortic dissection: diagnosis with transesophageal echocardiography versus MR imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of dissection of the thoracic aorta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one consecutive patients with clinically suspected aortic dissection and 10 postoperative patients underwent transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography and MR imaging. Imaging results were compared at independent double-blind readings. Final diagnosis was obtained from consensual review of all corroborative studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MR imaging depicted the intimal flap in 95% of aortic dissections; TEE, in 86% (P < .05). In surgical patients, the sensitivity of MR in detection of residual dissection was 100% versus 86% with TEE (P < .05). The inferior extent of the dissected lumen was seen only with MR imaging. False-positive results occurred in two cases with TEE and in one with MR imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR imaging is superior to TEE in the evaluation and follow-up of dissection of the thoracic aorta. Because the availability of MR is limited, however, TEE should remain the standard modality for diagnosis.
authors: Department of Radiology, University Bichat Claude-Bernard, Paris, France.
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Laissy
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Blanc
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Soyer
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Assayag
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sibert
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Tebboune
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Arrivé
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Brochet
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Hvass
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Langlois
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity