Transesophageal Echocardiography in the Diagnosis of Diseases of the Thoracic Aorta: Part 1. Aortic Dissection, Aortic Intramural Hematoma, and Penetrating Atherosclerotic Ulcer of the Aorta

Abstract

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become a valuable modality for the diagnosis and management of diseases of the thoracic aorta. This procedure has also contributed greatly to our understanding of the pathogenesis of these disorders. When compared to other technologies that are used to evaluate the thoracic aorta, TEE has the unique advantages of portability and the ability to obtain high-resolution images of the normal and pathologic anatomy of the three layers of the aortic wall and the aortic lumen. In part one of this two-part article, the case-based review will focus on the use of TEE in the acute aortic syndrome (aortic dissection, aortic intramural hematoma [AIH], and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer [PAU]) of the aorta. In part two, atherosclerotic disease of the aorta as a source of systemic emboli, and traumatic diseases of the aorta will be discussed. The two parts serve to update previous reviews in this continuously evolving field. 1 Shively BK Transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of aortic disease. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 1993; 14: 106-116 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (9) Google Scholar 2 Erbel R Role of transesophageal echocardiography in dissection of the aorta and evaluation of degenerative aortic disease. Cardiol Clin. 1993; 11: 461-473 PubMed Google Scholar 3 Tice FD Kisslo J Echocardiography in the diagnosis of aortic pathology. Int J Card Imaging. 1993; 9: 27-38 Crossref PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar 4 Goldstein SA Mintz GS Lindsay Jr, J Aorta: comprehensive evaluation by echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 1993; 6: 634-659 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (30) Google Scholar 5 Blanchard DG Kimura BJ Dittrich HC et al. Transesophageal echocardiography of the aorta. JAMA. 1994; 272: 546-551 Crossref PubMed Scopus (60) Google Scholar