title: Modern diagnostics for type B aortic dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Undifferentiated chest pain is one of the most common complaints in the acute care setting. Type B aortic dissection is an important cause of chest pain and a complex clinical entity, which carries significant morbidity and mortality and requires accurate clinical and radiological evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Imaging technologies have become an irreplaceable tool to establish the diagnosis of aortic dissection and to plan treatment strategies. Computed tomography is an important component in this process, replacing catheter-based angiography as the most commonly used preoperative and postoperative imaging modality for the thoracic aorta. The use of functional imaging methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography is evolving. These methods are able to provide the clinically relevant anatomical, hemodynamic and biomechanical information that is necessary for accurate diagnosis, risk stratification and patient selection for treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced image acquisition equipment and expertise are increasingly available in a growing number of institutions and as a consequence, existing strategies for the management of type B dissection are rapidly evolving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.affiliation: Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Gefäßmedizin, Universitäres Herzzentrum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kölbel
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK ; Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7EH London, UK.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Clough
keywords: Aortic dissection; Chest pain; Computed tomography; Functional imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging