CT imaging for acute aortic syndrome.

Acute aortic syndrome can be due to acute aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, or unstable thoracic aneurysm. These life-threatening conditions are clinically indistinguishable, often presenting with acute chest pain. Contrast-enhanced, cardiac-gated multidetector computed tomography (CT) is a highly accurate imaging method for determining the cause of acute aortic syndrome.