radiological appearance of aortic dissection
Last reviewed 01/2018
The characteristic radiological features of a dissection of the thoracic aorta include:
- mediastinal widening
- deviation of the trachea or oesophagus (or nasogastric tube) to the right
- deviation of the right main bronchus upwards and to the right or depression of the left main bronchus
- loss of definition of the aortic knuckle
- loss of the space between the aorta and pulmonary artery
- presence of a pleural cap
- first and second rib fractures