*5.9.1 The gold-standard diagnostic modality for aortic dissection*

Benefits include accurate visualization of the true and false lumen, intimal flap, aortic regurgitation, and coronary arteries.

Limits of aortography:

• Invasive procedure.


### *5.9.2 Diagnosis*

Diagnosis is usually done through imaging. The choice of the imaging technique depends on the patient condition (whether he is hemodynamically stable or not).

Chest radiography is the initial basic imaging technique, but it may reveal no abnormality.

Further imaging options like computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography with three-dimensional reconstruction are of higher diagnostic value.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is as accurate as CT and may benefit patients who have adverse reaction to intravenous drug agents.

In hemodynamically unstable patient, echocardiography is ideal.

Aortography is the gold-standard diagnostic modality.
