Imaging of Cardiovascular Thoracic Emergencies: Acute Aortic Syndrome and Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

Cardiovascular injuries represent the second most common cause of death among trauma victims in the United States. Motor vehicle collisions account for more than 80% of all blunt thoracic trauma. Given the nonspecific nature and variable severity of presenting symptoms, such as chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as confounding and overlapping clinical presentations in the setting of additional injuries, diagnosis of cardiovascular injuries can be challenging. This article reviews the clinical entities of acute aortic syndrome and pulmonary embolism, their imaging findings, and diagnostic challenges.

Keywords: Aortic aneurysm; Aortic dissection; Intramural hematoma; Pulmonary angiography; Pulmonary embolism.