Comparison betweeen computed tomography angiography and digital subtraction angiography in terms of the diagnosis and pre-operative evaluation of aortic dissection

Objective To compare computed tomography angiography (CTA) with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in diagnosis and pre-operative evaluation of aortic dissection(AD). Methods The data of sixty patients with AD who were examined by both CTA and DSA were analyzed retrospectively. Some outcomes, including the anchoring distance proximal to the intimal tear, the aortic diameter of the left side of the left subclavian artery(LSA), the extent of AD and involvement of main aortic branches, were compared between CTA and DSA. Results The anchoring distance more than 15 mm from the tears to the origin of the LSA was found in 44 (44/51, 86.2%) and 46(46/56,82.1%)cases by CTA and DSA, respectively, and anchoring distance less than 15 mm in 7(7/51,13.7%) by CTA and 10(10/56,17.8%) by DSA,respectiely. There were no significant distances in anchoring distance between CTA and DSA (P0.05). Involvement of the left iliac artery (LIA) and the right iliac artery (RIA) was found in 36 cases (36/60,60.0%) and 28 cases(28/60,46.7%) by CTA, and only in 14 cases (14/60,23.0%) and 13 cases(13/60,21.7%) by DSA, respectively, and there were statistical differences(P=0.012,P=0.022). There were no statistical differences in the aortic diameter of the left side of the LSA and involvement of visceral arteries detected by between CTA and DSA. Conclusion The two methods (CTA, DSA) are coincident with each other. Because of non-invasion, CTA has significant value for pre-operative evaluation before endovascular aortic repair.