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Imaging modalties of the Aorta
Computed Tomography (CT)
- CT is a highly accurate, rapid, reproducible, and readily available technique for detecting and sizing aortic aneurysms and for the diagnostic evaluation of suspected aortic dissection.
- CT is also helpful at mapping branch vessels, and for detecting mimics of aortic disease (e.g. pericardial disease, gastrointestinal disease).
Magnetic Resonance (MR)
- Imaging MR is also a highly accurate technique for aortic imaging.
- However, the study time is lengthy and the patient is relatively inaccessible, making this modality unsuitable for acute or unstable patients.
- MR is most often performed with intravenous gadolinium as a contrast agent, but the “black-blood” technique with spin-echo sequences can provide satisfactory images without the need for gadolinium.
Aortography
- Catheter-based aortography is an invasive technique that can demonstrate the full extent of aneurysmal disease and dissection, map branch vessel involvement, and demonstrate the presence of IAo.
- However, aortography is not readily available in most settings, requires an expert physician operator, and requires that potentially unstable patients undergo a prolonged procedure.