rss
Postgrad Med J 2009;85:383-391 doi:10.1136/pgmj.2008.075531
  • Review

Congenital and acquired conditions of the aortic root: multidetector computed tomography features

  1. H A Vargas1,2,
  2. E T D Hoey2,
  3. D Gopalan2,
  4. S K B Agrawal2,
  5. N J Screaton2,
  6. G S Gulati2,3
  1. 1
    Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK
  2. 2
    Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK
  3. 3
    All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
  1. Dr G S Gulati, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, B-3/185, Janak Puri, New Delhi 110058, India; gulatigurpreet{at}rediffmail.com
  • Received 12 October 2008
  • Accepted 29 March 2009

Abstract

The aortic root links the left ventricle and ascending aorta and functions as a support structure for the aortic valve. It can be affected by a variety of congenital and acquired conditions, some of which are potentially life threatening. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging are established non-invasive imaging techniques for assessing the aortic root. Recent technological advances have allowed multidetector computed tomography to emerge as an alternative means of assessing this aortic segment. This pictorial essay reviews the anatomy of the aortic root and illustrates the salient computed tomography imaging features of a range of congenital and acquired conditions that may affect it.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None declared.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Social bookmarking

Register for free content


Free sample
 This recent issue is free to all users to allow everyone the opportunity to see the full scope and typical content of PMJ.
View free sample issue >>

Free archive
The full back archive is now available for PMJ. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006, back to volume 1 issue 1.
Register to access the free archive >>

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.