Direct findings of aortic injury on contrast-enhanced CT in surgically proven traumatic aortic injury: A multi-centre review

Objective: To review the contrast-enhanced CT findings in surgically proven traumatic aortic injury (TAI). Materials and methods: We searched the trauma registries of three academic medical centres from 1994 to 2000 and found 34 patients with surgically proven TAI that received pre-operative contrast-enhanced chest CT. Two chest radiologists recorded by consensus the size and location of direct (pseudoaneurysm, intimal flap) and indirect (mediastinal haematoma) findings of TAI. The imaging findings were correlated with surgical reports. Results: Direct findings of aortic injury (pseudoaneurysm or intimal flap) were seen on contrast enhanced CT in all patients and confirmed at surgery. Specifically, a pseudoaneurysm was seen in 33 (97%), presenting either as a focal bulge in 22 (65%) or as more diffuse aneurysmal enlargement in 11 (32%). An intimal flap was identified in 31 cases (91%). A periaortic haematoma was seen in 31 cases (91%). In the three patients without periaortic haematoma, the only indications of aortic injury were a focal pseudoaneurysm in two (6%) and an intimal flap in one (3%). Conclusion: In this series of surgically proven TAI, direct findings of aortic injury were seen in all cases. Aortic tear occurred without mediastinal haematoma in 9% (3/34) of patients.