THORACIC AORTIC-ANEURYSM AND AORTIC DISSECTION - NEW ENDOSCOPIC MODE FOR 3-DIMENSIONAL CT DISPLAY OF AORTA

Three-dimensional (3D) endoscopic-mode software was used at helical co mputed tomography (CT) to evaluate distal aortic arch aneurysms (n = 1 2) and aortic dissections (n = 10); images were compared with two-dime nsional (2D) axial source images. In distal aortic arch aneurysms, the 3D endoscopic mode depicted the relationship of the arterial orifices and the aneurysm, which is difficult to evaluate with 2D axial images alone. In aortic dissections, however, the 3D endoscopic mode did not provide additional information to that provided on the 2D axial sourc e images.