Pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta sustained during exposure to a tornado diagnosed with ECG-synchronized CT aortography.
A case of a tornado victim with a delayed presentation of injury to the aortic isthmus is discussed. Tornado forces resemble the forces of high energy explosions, and the injuries that can occur as a result of these forces can be bizarre. The patient presented with the unique computed tomography (CT) findings of isolated pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta in the absence of other traumatic injury to the thorax. Equivocal results of the initial CT aortogram (CTA) were confirmed with ECG-synchronized CTA (ECG-CTA), demonstrating the superiority of ECG-CTA as compared to standard CTA.
Department of Radiology, Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY.
Amit
A
Chakraborty
Department of Radiology, Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY.
Paul F
PF
von Herrmann
Department of Radiology, Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY.
Ryan E
RE
Embertson
Department of Radiology, Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY.
Kevin P
KP
Landwehr
Department of Radiology, Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY; Department of Cardiology, Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY. Electronic address: michael.winkler@uky.edu.
Michael A
MA
Winkler
D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055869:Tornadoes
Aorta; ECG-CTA; ECG-synchonized; Pseudoaneurysm; Tornado