Radiology, Vol 186, 195-201, Copyright © 1993 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Aortic aneurysm and dissection: normal MR imaging and CT findings after surgical repair with the continuous-suture graft-inclusion technique

NM Rofsky, JC Weinreb, EA Grossi, AC Galloway, RB Libes, SB Colvin and DP Naidich
Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.

The normal range of postoperative imaging findings are described in 34 asymptomatic patients studied 5-66 months (mean, 28 months) after undergoing the continuous-suture graft-inclusion technique for repair of aortic aneurysms (n = 20) and dissections (n = 14) involving the ascending aorta. All 34 patients underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and 24 patients also underwent computed tomography (CT). Perigraft thickening was seen in 19 patients (56%) with MR imaging and in eight patients (33%) with CT. Flow outside the graft but contained within the native wrap was noted in five patients (15%) with MR imaging and in four patients (17%) with contrast material-enhanced CT. Thrombus was identified outside the graft and within the wrap in seven patients (21%) with MR imaging and in six patients (25%) with CT. Mass effect on the graft was depicted in four patients (12%) with MR imaging and in three patients (13%) with CT. Of the 14 patients who underwent repair of aortic dissections, an intimal flap was seen distal to the graft in seven of the 14 (50%) evaluated with MR imaging and in four of the 10 (40%) evaluated with contrast-enhanced CT. An accurate postoperative imaging evaluation requires precise knowledge of the surgical technique performed and its anatomic consequences.

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