Vascular Imaging
Draped aorta sign | Draped aorta sign: posterior wall of the aorta either is not identifiable or closely follows vertebral bodies |
Hyperattenuation crescent sign | • Hyperattenuation crescent sign: welldefined peripheral crescent of increased attenuation within the thrombus of a large aneurysm indicates acute or impending rupture |
loss of “wink” sign | Noncompressibility of vein (loss
of “wink” sign) DVT |
popliteal “dog-leg” sign (aCute bend in the lumen of the popliteal artery) | • Popliteal aneurysm: Most common peripheral arterial aneurysm. 50% of aneurysms are bilateral, and 80% are associated with aneurysm elsewhere. Commonly due to atherosclerotic disease or trauma. Angiography may show luminal dilatation or mural calcification. 25% of popliteal artery aneurysms may not be associated with visible arterial dilatation by angiography. In these cases, secondary signs such as the “dog-leg sign” (acute bend in lumen of the popliteal artery) may be helpful. Complications of aneurysm include distal embolization and thrombosis, resulting in ischemia. Rupture is uncommon. |
Popliteal “dog-leg” sign (acute bend in the lumen of the popliteal artery) | • Popliteal aneurysms (if
bilateral, 80% also have AAA) • Tortuous artery • Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (accentuated arterial narrowing with passive dorsiflexion or active plantar flexion at arteriography) • Adventitial cystic disease (no flow on US) • Baker's cyst (no flow on US) |
pseudovein” sign | Extravascular contrast
extravasation is the hallmark of active bleeding. Accumulation in bowel lumen Gastric “pseudovein” sign (contrast between rugal folds) Filling of pseudoaneurysm or pooling upper gi hemorrhage |
Vascular Complications of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome CT Angiography and 3D mapping | Ehlers Danlos Syndrome EDS:
group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous heritable connective tissue
disorders; characterised by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility,
tissue fragility; six forms of EDS are currently recognised; disease related
symptoms vary based on each EDS type Vascular EDS (type IV), AD; heterogeneous mutations in the COL3A1 gene and encoding for Type III procollagen; Excessive tissue fragility predisposing to premature arteria;, intestinal or uterine rupture 2 of 3 Major criteria: Thin translucent skin; Arterial, intestinal, uterine fragility or rupture; extensive bruising; characteristic facial appearance Minor criteria: Acrogeria (slender face, sunken cheeks, thin nose and lips); Hypermobility of small joints; tendon and muscle rupture; talipes equiovarus; anteriovenous, carotid-cavernous sinus fistula; pneumothorax, pneumohemothorax; gingival recession; positive family history, sudden death in close relative Patients deveop vascular lesions at a young age; aneurysms, dissection, occlusion, stenosis; lesions frequently involve multipe vascular segments; can be isolated to a single vascular segment; frequently involve abdominal viseral arteries; iliac arteries; thoracic and abdominal aorta Complications: Spontaneous aneurysm rupture; progression of pre-existing aneurysms; development of new aneurysms; dissection and vascular occlusions |
Vascular sign | Vascular sign; acute embolus in a dilated vessel leading to apex of consolidation |
Vessel
cutoff sign rim sign on axial and tramtrack sign on long axis view |
CT Pulmonary Angiography
(CTPA) Direct findings of PE • Direct visualization of filling defect • Vessel cutoff sign: distal artery is not opacified due to occlusive embolus • Occluded artery is larger than the normal artery on the opposite side • Partial occlusion can cause rim sign on axial and tramtrack sign on long axis view Indirect findings of PE • Pulmonary hemorrhage; usually resolves in a week |