Clinical value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography angiography and three-dimensional reconstruction in the diagnosis of double aortic arch.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clincal value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in the diagnosis of double aortic arch (DAA) and analyze the associated angiography and 3D reconstruction imaging to increase the accuracy of DAA diagnosis. Clinical and imaging data from 15 patients diagnosed with DAA by MSCT were summarized and compared with the corresponding surgical observations. The DAA diagnosis by MSCT for the 15 patients was confirmed by the surgical observations. A total of 13 cases were categorized as type I (double arches are open), including nine with a larger right arch, two with a larger left arch and two with balanced arches. Two cases were categorized as type II (one atretic arch), characterized by left atretic arch. Among the 15 patients, ultrasound diagnosis succeeded in nine cases and failed in the rest. A single malformation was identified in only two cases, whereas the rest had single or multiple combination(s) of intracardiac and extracardiac malformations, including seven with different levels of tracheobronchial stenosis. MSCT was demonstrated to precisely diagnose DAA complicated by malformation and tracheobronchial stenosis. MSCT is an essential therapeutic strategy and serves as a primary method in DAA diagnosis.