Diagnosis of the thoracic aortic aneurysm by three-dimensional CT angiography

Twenty patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms were evaluated by a newly developed three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CT) from December 1992 to February 1993. The patients included 12 aortic dissections, 7 true thoracic aortic aneurysms and one thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm. Three-dimensional displays were achieved rapidly in all cases using helical (spinal) CT which is a new technology with continuous tube rotation and continuous table feed. An intravenous contrast material was used to image the thoracic aortic aneurysm and the major aortic branches with single-breath-hold technique. Surgical treatment was performed in eight of 20 patients, and the aortic lesions in three cases were confirmed intraoperatively. Three-dimensional structures of the thoracic aorta and major branches were clearly visualized by 3D-CT and these images were useful to determine the operative procedure in surgical cases. 3D-CT is a new modality of evaluating the vascular system and may be a powerful and useful diagnostic method for the surgical intervention of thoracic aortic aneurysm. (author)