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Insights into Imaging
Published in: Insights into Imaging 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Computed Tomography | Educational Review

Imaging of the aortic root on high-pitch non-gated and ECG-gated CT: awareness is the key!

Authors: Prashant Nagpal, Mukta D. Agrawal, Sachin S. Saboo, Sandeep Hedgire, Sarv Priya, Michael L. Steigner

Published in: Insights into Imaging | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

The aortic pathologies are well recognized on imaging. However, conventionally cardiac and proximal aortic abnormalities were only seen on dedicated cardiac or aortic studies due to need for ECG gating. Advances in CT technology have allowed motionless imaging of the chest and abdomen, leading to an increased visualization of cardiac and aortic root diseases on non-ECG-gated imaging. The advances are mostly driven by high pitch due to faster gantry rotation and table speed. The high-pitch scans are being increasingly used for variety of clinical indications because the images are free of motion artifact (both breathing and pulsation) as well as decreased radiation dose. Recognition of aortic root pathologies may be challenging due to lack of familiarity of radiologists with disease spectrum and their imaging appearance. It is important to recognize some of these conditions as early diagnosis and intervention is key to improving prognosis. We present a comprehensive review of proximal aortic anatomy, pathologies commonly seen at the aortic root, and their imaging appearances to familiarize radiologists with the diseases of this location.
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Metadata
Title
Imaging of the aortic root on high-pitch non-gated and ECG-gated CT: awareness is the key!
Authors
Prashant Nagpal
Mukta D. Agrawal
Sachin S. Saboo
Sandeep Hedgire
Sarv Priya
Michael L. Steigner
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Insights into Imaging / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1869-4101
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-020-00855-w

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