CT diagnosis and destiny of acute aortic intramural hematoma

Acute aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) is a relatively uncommon but potentially life-threatening aortic disease that can occur primarily in hypertensive and atherosclerotic patients. The course of IMH varies widely, with the condition either regressing, remaining stable, or progressing until it lead...

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Main Authors: Giacomo Sica, Gaetano Rea, Roberta Lieto, Mariano Scaglione, Ahmad Abu-Omar, Giorgio Bocchini, Federica Romano, Salvatore Masala, Stefania Tamburrini, Salvatore Guarino, Candida Massimo, Tullio Valente
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Radiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fradi.2025.1552644/full
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author Giacomo Sica
Gaetano Rea
Roberta Lieto
Mariano Scaglione
Ahmad Abu-Omar
Giorgio Bocchini
Federica Romano
Salvatore Masala
Stefania Tamburrini
Salvatore Guarino
Candida Massimo
Tullio Valente
author_facet Giacomo Sica
Gaetano Rea
Roberta Lieto
Mariano Scaglione
Ahmad Abu-Omar
Giorgio Bocchini
Federica Romano
Salvatore Masala
Stefania Tamburrini
Salvatore Guarino
Candida Massimo
Tullio Valente
author_sort Giacomo Sica
collection DOAJ
description Acute aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) is a relatively uncommon but potentially life-threatening aortic disease that can occur primarily in hypertensive and atherosclerotic patients. The course of IMH varies widely, with the condition either regressing, remaining stable, or progressing until it leads to outward rupture or intimal layer disruption, eventually resulting in overt aortic dissection. Therefore, poor prognostic computed tomography (CT) features must be promptly recognized and reported by the radiologist. In emergency departments, readily accessible non-invasive CT angiography is crucial for achieving a rapid and accurate diagnosis essential for appropriate management. For Type A and B aortic dissection, surgery is typically recommended in Western countries for patients with Stanford Type A IMH and those experiencing irrepressible pain. For Stanford Type B IMH patients without complications or incessant pain, medical treatment is suggested but with imaging follow-up. In complicated Stanford Type B situations, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is currently indicated. This review aims to present pathophysiology, CT diagnosis, and IMH fate and provide the reader CT image-based review of the CT diagnostic criteria, complications, and associated critical prognostic findings of this rather rare aortic disease.
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spelling doaj-art-e094a5a481314c1f8a2657201f5358252025-08-20T02:57:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Radiology2673-87402025-03-01510.3389/fradi.2025.15526441552644CT diagnosis and destiny of acute aortic intramural hematomaGiacomo Sica0Gaetano Rea1Roberta Lieto2Mariano Scaglione3Ahmad Abu-Omar4Giorgio Bocchini5Federica Romano6Salvatore Masala7Stefania Tamburrini8Salvatore Guarino9Candida Massimo10Tullio Valente11Department of Radiology, Azienda dei Colli, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, Azienda dei Colli, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, Azienda dei Colli, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Emergency Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Radiology, Azienda dei Colli, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, Azienda dei Colli, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, Ospedale del Mare-ASL NA1 Centro, Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, Azienda dei Colli, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, Azienda dei Colli, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, Azienda dei Colli, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyAcute aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) is a relatively uncommon but potentially life-threatening aortic disease that can occur primarily in hypertensive and atherosclerotic patients. The course of IMH varies widely, with the condition either regressing, remaining stable, or progressing until it leads to outward rupture or intimal layer disruption, eventually resulting in overt aortic dissection. Therefore, poor prognostic computed tomography (CT) features must be promptly recognized and reported by the radiologist. In emergency departments, readily accessible non-invasive CT angiography is crucial for achieving a rapid and accurate diagnosis essential for appropriate management. For Type A and B aortic dissection, surgery is typically recommended in Western countries for patients with Stanford Type A IMH and those experiencing irrepressible pain. For Stanford Type B IMH patients without complications or incessant pain, medical treatment is suggested but with imaging follow-up. In complicated Stanford Type B situations, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is currently indicated. This review aims to present pathophysiology, CT diagnosis, and IMH fate and provide the reader CT image-based review of the CT diagnostic criteria, complications, and associated critical prognostic findings of this rather rare aortic disease.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fradi.2025.1552644/fullaortic intramural hematomacomputed tomography angiography (CTA)acute aortic syndrome (AAS)penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU)aortic dissection (AD)diagnosis
spellingShingle Giacomo Sica
Gaetano Rea
Roberta Lieto
Mariano Scaglione
Ahmad Abu-Omar
Giorgio Bocchini
Federica Romano
Salvatore Masala
Stefania Tamburrini
Salvatore Guarino
Candida Massimo
Tullio Valente
CT diagnosis and destiny of acute aortic intramural hematoma
Frontiers in Radiology
aortic intramural hematoma
computed tomography angiography (CTA)
acute aortic syndrome (AAS)
penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU)
aortic dissection (AD)
diagnosis
title CT diagnosis and destiny of acute aortic intramural hematoma
title_full CT diagnosis and destiny of acute aortic intramural hematoma
title_fullStr CT diagnosis and destiny of acute aortic intramural hematoma
title_full_unstemmed CT diagnosis and destiny of acute aortic intramural hematoma
title_short CT diagnosis and destiny of acute aortic intramural hematoma
title_sort ct diagnosis and destiny of acute aortic intramural hematoma
topic aortic intramural hematoma
computed tomography angiography (CTA)
acute aortic syndrome (AAS)
penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU)
aortic dissection (AD)
diagnosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fradi.2025.1552644/full
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