Combined CT angiography of the aorta and craniocervical artery: a new imaging protocol for assessment of acute type A aortic dissection

According to the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) data, computed tomography angiography (CTA) may be presently the imaging modality of first choice on suspicion of aortic dissection (1). However, the scan range of conventional aortic CTA for assessment of aortic dissection is commonly from the thoracic inlet to the pelvis (2,3), covering the proximal supraaortic branches to iliac artery. Hence, conventional aortic CTA fails to visualize the anatomy and pathology of cerebral and carotid arteries, which are important for the surgeon to plan pre- and intraoperative procedures in aortic arch surgery. The selection of reliable cerebral protection method and precise surgical procedures may influence the postoperative outcome