Value of 16-slice spiral CT angiography in imaging diagnosis of aortic dissection

Objective:To investigate the application value of the 16-slice spiral CT angiography(SCTA) in the imaging diagnosis of aortic dissection.Methods:Pre-and post-contrast CT scanning with 16-slice spiral CT(SCT) of chest and abdomen were performed in 22 patients with aortic dissection.Post processing techniques including multi-planar reformation(MPR),maximum intensity projection(MIP),volume rendering(VR) and surface shaded display(SSD) were conducted for three-dimensional reconstruction.Results:The original axial images preserved the most reliable and fundamental information.The images obtained by different reformation and reconstruction techniques had different characteristics.The whole aorta and its branches in these 22 cases were displayed satisfactorily by 16-slice SCTA.Aortic dissection was assessed in 22 cases,with true and false lumen(22 cases,100%),intimal flaps(22 cases,100%),entry of intimal tear(17 cases,77.3%) and thrombosed false lumen(9 cases,41%).Conclusion:16-slice SCT angiography can fully display the anatomic details of aortia,which is an accurate,faster and effective check method to diagnose aortic dissection.