Fisher R G, Ben-Menachem Y
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1987 Sep;149(3):607-11. doi: 10.2214/ajr.149.3.607.
Eighteen patients with surgically proved penetrating injuries to the thoracic aorta or brachiocephalic arteries were evaluated preoperatively with angiography. Fifteen injuries resulted from direct penetration of a vessel and three were concussion or blast injuries. Arteriography correctly showed vessel damage in 16 (89%), although one was identified only in retrospect. There were two false-negative examinations. False aneurysms were present in nine. Other findings included occlusion, wall irregularity, and an arterial-arterial fistula. Our results show that angiography is an accurate means of detecting penetrating injuries to the thoracic aorta or brachiocephalic arteries.
