Radiology, Vol 166, 651-655, Copyright © 1988 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Aortic dissection: sensitivity and specificity of MR imaging

BA Kersting-Sommerhoff, CB Higgins, RD White, CP Sommerhoff and MJ Lipton
Department of Radiology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143.

Gated transverse magnetic resonance (MR) images of 54 patients (35 male, 19 female; aged 16-90 years) with suspected or known aortic dissection were reviewed by three cardiac radiologists without knowledge of clinical details. The reviewers independently determined the presence or absence and the type of aortic dissection. A confidence level was assigned for each diagnosis, and receiver operating characteristic curves were generated. The reviewer with extensive MR experience correctly identified 96% of the proved aortic dissections and all of the normal cases; the reviewer with moderate experience identified 96% and 84%, respectively; and the reviewer with minimal experience, 78% and 94%. The sensitivity at a specificity level of 90% was determined for each reviewer (100%, 96%, and 83%, respectively). MR imaging is highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of aortic dissection but does require considerable experience because of the need to recognize flow artifacts.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Shiga, Z. Wajima, C. C. Apfel, T. Inoue, and Y. Ohe Diagnostic Accuracy of Transesophageal Echocardiography, Helical Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Suspected Thoracic Aortic Dissection: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med, July 10, 2006; 166(13): 1350 - 1356. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. Srichai, M. L. Lieber, B. W. Lytle, J. M. Kasper, and R. D. White Acute dissection of the descending aorta: noncommunicating versus communicating forms Ann. Thorac. Surg., June 1, 2004; 77(6): 2012 - 2020. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. P. Kunz, K. Oberholzer, W. Kuroczynski, G. Horstick, F. Krummenauer, M. Thelen, and K.-F. Kreitner Assessment of Chronic Aortic Dissection: Contribution of Different ECG-Gated Breath-Hold MRI Techniques Am. J. Roentgenol., May 1, 2004; 182(5): 1319 - 1326. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Erbel, F. Alfonso, C. Boileau, O. Dirsch, B. Eber, A. Haverich, H. Rakowski, J. Struyven, K. Radegran, U. Sechtem, et al. Diagnosis and management of aortic dissection: Task Force on Aortic Dissection, European Society of Cardiology Eur. Heart J., September 2, 2001; 22(18): 1642 - 1681. [PDF]

				T. Suzuki, H. Katoh, Y. Tsuchio, A. Hasegawa, M. Kurabayashi, A. Ohira, K. Hiramori, Y. Sakomura, H. Kasanuki, S. Hori, et al. Diagnostic Implications of Elevated Levels of Smooth-Muscle Myosin Heavy-Chain Protein in Acute Aortic Dissection: The Smooth Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain Study Ann Intern Med, October 3, 2000; 133(7): 537 - 541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. H. Stemerman, G. A. Krinsky, V. S. Lee, G. Johnson, B. M. Yang, and N. M. Rofsky Thoracic Aorta: Rapid Black-Blood MR Imaging with Half-Fourier Rapid Acquisition with Relaxation Enhancement with or without Electrocardiographic Triggering Radiology, October 1, 1999; 213(1): 185 - 191. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. Nguyen, M. Muller, B. Kipfer, P. Berdat, B. Walpoth, U. Althaus, and T. Carrel Different techniques of distal aortic repair in acute type A dissection: impact on late aortic morphology and reoperation Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., April 1, 1999; 15(4): 496 - 501. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Kanojia and R. R Kasliwal Recent Advances In Echocardiography of Aortic Disorders Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, September 1, 1998; 6(3): 153 - 157. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. P. Feltrin, M. Chiesura-Corona, D. Miotto, S. Savastano, L. Castellan, and A. Torraco Intravascular Ultrasound Evaluation for Assessment and Therapeutic Decisions in Aortic Diseases Angiology, January 1, 1994; 45(1): 7 - 16. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. A. Nienaber, Y. von Kodolitsch, V. Nicolas, V. Siglow, A. Piepho, C. Brockhoff, D. H. Koschyk, and R. P. Spielmann The Diagnosis of Thoracic Aortic Dissection by Noninvasive Imaging Procedures N. Engl. J. Med., January 7, 1993; 328(1): 1 - 9. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. E. Cigarroa, E. M. Isselbacher, R. W. DeSanctis, and K. A. Eagle Diagnostic Imaging in the Evaluation of Suspected Aortic Dissection -- Old Standards and New Directions N. Engl. J. Med., January 7, 1993; 328(1): 35 - 43. [Full Text]

				M. D. Wiener, D. N. Wiener, and C. E. Ravin Thoracic Imaging in the Intensive Care Unit J Intensive Care Med, July 1, 1989; 4(4): 149 - 165. [Abstract] [PDF]