title: [CT angiography of the aorta].
abstract: Aortic disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality and thus require an efficient and accurate diagnostic approach, especially in the acute setting. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) with the option of high-resolution CT angiography (CTA) has emerged as the standard of reference in diagnosis and follow-up of patients with acquired aortic disease. Aortic dissection is the most common aortic emergency, but it remains undiscovered in up to 38% of cases. Sensitivity and specificity of MSCT in the assessment of aortic dissection are greater than 99%. The sensitivity of CT in the detection of inflammatory changes is 83%; its specificity is almost 100%; and its diagnostic accuracy is ca. 94%. This article outlines state-of-the-art principles in diagnostic CT imaging of acquired aortic disease.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Radiologie, Klinikum Grosshadern der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Marchioninistrasse 15, Munich, Germany. Daniel.Theisen@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Theisen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: von Tengg-Kobligk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Michaely
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reiser
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wintersperger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D001025:Aortitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media