Aortic rupture: comparison of three imaging modalities

摘要

We report a case of a 56-year-old man with traumatic aortic rupture (TAR) sustained in a motor vehicle accident diagnosed by helical computed tomography, aortography, and transesophageal echocardiography. A large majority of patients with TAR never make it to the hospital, and for those who do, a timely diagnosis is critical for survival. We discuss the merits and pitfalls of the three imaging modalities.