Useful CT findings for predicting the progression of aortic intramural hematoma to overt aortic dissection.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to assess useful CT findings for predicting the progression of aortic intramural hematoma to aortic dissection.


METHODS
We analyzed the CT findings of 29 patients with aortic intramural hematoma with regard to the following: involved site, maximum thickness of hematoma, presence or absence of compression of true lumen, and pericardial and pleural effusion. CT findings were compared with those of the patients who progressed to aortic dissection (Group I) and those who did not (Group II). Each CT finding was evaluated with independent t test and Mann-Whitney U test (p < 0.05).


RESULTS
Seven of 8 cases of Type A aortic intramural hematoma and 3 of 21 cases of Type B aortic intramural hematoma progressed to aortic dissection. The type of aortic intramural hematoma, maximum thickness of hematoma, compression of true lumen, and pericardial or pleural effusion were significantly different in Groups I and II.


CONCLUSIONS
Type A aortic intramural hematoma, maximum thickness of hematoma, compression of true lumen, and pericardial or pleural effusion are the useful CT findings for predicting the progression of aortic intramural hematoma to aortic dissection.
Choi
S H
SH
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Choi
S J
SJ
Kim
J H
JH
Bae
S J
SJ
Lee
J S
JS
Song
K S
KS
Lim
T H
TH
D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001027:Aortography; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed