[Identification of intramural aortic hematoma by transesophageal echocardiography].
OBJECTIVE
The usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis and assessment of patients with aortic dissection has been widely demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of this technique in the detection of intramural aortic hematoma and in the follow-up of these patients.


METHODS
The records of 51 patients with aortic dissection by transesophageal echocardiography diagnosed between May 1990 and May 1994 were reviewed.


RESULTS
The diagnosis of intramural aortic hematoma was established in 6 patients by transesophageal echocardiography (11%). This diagnosis was confirmed either anatomically (3 patients) or with an additional diagnostic technique (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) and on the basis of echocardiographic follow-up changes (3 patients).


CONCLUSIONS
Intramural aortic hematoma represents an infrequent variant of aortic dissection that can be detected by transesophageal echocardiography and is usually unrecognized by aortography.
Vilacosta
I
I
Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario de San Carlos, Madrid.
Antonio Castillo
J
J
Alberto San Román
J
J
Gómez
J
J
Jesús Rollán
M
M
Arganda
L
L
Peral
V
V
Batlle
E
E
Ferreirós
J
J
Aragoncillo
P
P
Sánchez-Harguindey
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Identificación del hematoma intramural aórtico por ecocardiografía transesofágica.