title: Imaging of thoracic aortic injury.
abstract: Isthmic aortic rupture or disruption should be systematically sought when there is high kinetic energy trauma to the thorax. This condition is extremely serious and life threatening. It needs to be diagnosed rapidly but diagnostic pitfalls must be avoided. CT angiography is the standard examination. The main CT signs of rupture or disruption of the thoracic aorta are periaortic hematoma, intimal flap, pseudo-aneurysm and contrast agent extravasation. There are three types of lesion: intimal, subadventitial or pseudo-aneurysmal, and complete rupture with lesion of the three tunicae, and it is important to grade them for better therapeutic management. The main diagnostic pitfalls of the CT scan are the presence of a ductus diverticulum and post-isthmic fusiform dilatation. Associated lesions must not be overlooked. The most common are ruptures of the aortic root and the thoracic aorta in the diaphragmatic hiatus.
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Radiology, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France. Electronic address: djamel506@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ait Ali Yahia
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Radiology, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouvier
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Radiology, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nedelcu
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Radiology, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urdulashvili
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Radiology, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thouveny
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Radiology, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ridereau
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Radiology, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tanguy
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Picquet
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Radiology, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aube
authors.affiliation: University of Nantes/Angers/Le Mans (UNAM), Angers, France; Department of Radiology, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willoteaux
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: CT angiography diagnosis; Diagnostic pitfalls; Thoracic aorta; Traumatic rupture