Natural History and CT Appearances of Aortic Intramural Hematoma

Rupture of the vasa vasorum into the media of the aortic wall results in an aortic intramural hematoma. Characteristic findings of an aortic intramural hematoma include a crescentic hyperattenuating fluid collection at unenhanced computed tomography (CT) and a smooth, nonenhancing, thickened aortic wall at contrast material-enhanced CT. The CT appearance of untreated intramural hematomas evolves over time, and decreased attenuation is a clue to...