[Computed tomography and angiography in aortic dissection].

The authors report on 32 patients with dissecting aneurysm examined via computed tomography, 21 of whom were also additionally examined by means of angiography. Whereas CT with contrast medium bolus resulted in a diagnosis in dissecting aneurysm in all the cases, aortography failed in 2 patients because of a thrombosed dissection. Aortography offers clear advantages over CT, besides better spatial representation, in respect of clarification as to which aortic branches are involved, especially in the region of the aortic arch. On the other hand, the advantages of CT are lower invasiveness, high sensibility and the possibility of including concomitant complications when establishing the diagnosis.