MDCT EVALUATION OF AORTIC ROOT AND ASCENDING AORTIC PATHOLOGIES: PICTORIAL ESSAY

Abstract

Objective; The purpose of this pictorial essay is to review the MDCT appearance of aortic root and ascending aortic pathologies. Familiarity with atypical anatomy and pathologies of the aortic root, ascending aorta and their clinical presentation may facilitate appropriate diagnosis and management.This can be of immense help to the clinician planning interventional procedures such as stenting, balloon dilatation, or graft surgery. Conclusion; Increasing use of MDCT for cardiac imaging has helped in the detection of many benign aortic root anomalies, but a small number are associated with myocardial ischemia and sudden death. Increasing the use of MDCT in cardiac imaging may yield diagnostic information on pathologies of the aortic root and ascending aorta not obtained with invasive coronary angiography. Axial sections, multiplanar reconstructions, virtual angioscopy, and 3D volume-rendered images should aid in the detection and improve the interpretation of such pathologies.