GRE phase imaging differentiated paramagnetic from diamagnetic susceptibility, which was specific for calcification.

CT angiography has good sensitivity for depiction of intracranial aneurysms 3 mm or larger and relatively good sensitivity for aneurysms less than 3 mm. CT angiography may be a noninvasive technique for detection of asymptomatic unruptured or ruptured aneurysms.

Because of a lack of information about the rates of growth of aortic aneurysms, such rates in thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms were determined. One hundred seventy-one patients with atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm managed nonoperatively were followed up for more than 6 months with sequential computed tomography (CT). There were 211 aneurysms (thoracic aortic, 82; abdominal aortic, 129). The growth rates of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms were 0.42 and 0.28 cm/y, respectively. Aneurysms at the aortic arch (n = 34) grew at a faster average rate (0.56 cm/y) than aneurysms arising at other levels, even when the rate was corrected for the initial diameter. It is recommended that thoracic aortic aneurysms, especially aortic arch aneurysms, be followed frequently with CT examination of size.

CT scan with contrast enhancement was a highly reliable imaging modality for the diagnosis of IAAA.

The authors examined 17 patients with type A aortic dissection with ultrafast computed tomography (CT). Forty sections with 1-cm intervals, from the aortic arch to the aortic bifurcation, were scanned serially without breath holding within only 74 seconds. Except for two thrombosed dissections, all intimal flaps in the ascending aorta were demonstrated, and 14 (93%) of the 15 surgically proved intimal tears were depicted. An intimal tear in the aortic arch was missed. Since conventional scanning tends not to depict type A aortic dissection, millisecond-order ultrafast CT scanning has the potential to become the modality of choice for imaging of aortic dissection.