CT RECONSTRUCTION OF AN UNUSUAL CHRONIC POSTTRAUMATIC ANEURYSM OF THETHORACIC AORTA

Chronic traumatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is an unusual occurre nce. Previously, arteriography was performed on all patients seen in o ur institution with this entity to allow confirmation of the diagnosis and anatomic delineation for operation. rh case of chronic traumatic aneurysm of the distal descending aorta discovered on a routine chest roentgenogram and evaluated with chest computed tomographic scanning w ith three-dimensional reconstruction is presented. It is our belief th at not all thoracic aneurysms require arteriography, and improved meth ods of computed tomographic scanning allow adequate diagnosis and anat omic delineation with decreased morbidity and cost. (C) 1997 by The So ciety of Thoracic Surgeons.