Acute Aortic Syndrome: State-of-the-Art Diagnostic Imaging

The accurate detection and evaluation of acute aortic syndrome is one of the radiologist’s most important and immediately impactful opportunities to improve human health. Acute aortic syndrome is often a clinical emergency and a situation that demands accurate radiologic diagnosis and intervention to provide lifesaving care. The diagnosis of acute aortic syndrome has evolved significantly over the last two decades, from an arteriographic diagnosis to a diagnosis based upon multi-detector computed tomography (CT) angiography [1] and, to a limited extent, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With the advent of these new techniques for diagnosis, investigators have revisited the questions and pathologies surrounding acute aortic syndromes.