Aortic dissection: CT features that distinguish true lumen from false lumen.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine which CT findings are reliable indicators of the true or false lumen in an aortic dissection. The beak sign and a larger cross-sectional area were the most useful indicators of the false lumen for both acute and chronic dissections. Features generally indicative of the true lumen included outer wall calcification and eccentric flap calcification. In cases showing one lumen wrapping around the other lumen in the aortic arch, the inner lumen was invariably the true lumen.