Open AccessMotion artifact simulating aortic dissection on CT.
Author(s) -
Melissa Burns,
Paul L. Molina,
Fernando R. Gutiérrez,
Stuart S. Sagel
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
american journal of roentgenology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1546-3141
pISSN - 0361-803X
DOI - 10.2214/ajr.157.3.1872227
Subject(s) - medicine , artifact (error) , aortic dissection , motion (physics) , dissection (medical) , radiology , nuclear medicine , aorta , cardiology , computer vision , computer science
We recently imaged two patients clinically suspected of having aortic dissection whose contrast-enhanced CT examinations, obtained on a new scanner with a 1-sec scanning time, showed findings suggesting an ascending aortic dissection. The subsequent clinical course and evaluation implied that the CT findings were predominantly artifactual. We identified identical artifacts in 18% of 50 consecutive contrast-enhanced CT examinations performed for a variety of indications on the same scanner. The double-lumen artifact, simulating an intimal flap, occurs in the proximal ascending aorta and is limited to one or two contiguous transaxial images. The artifact was not detected on two other CT units. We believe the artifact arises from motion of the aortic wall and the surrounding pericardial recesses during image acquisition.