If venous phase or unenhanced CT has already been performed, additional imaging with CTA may not be required in some patients. CT Chest and Abdomen Without and With IV Contrast There is no relevant literature regarding venous phase CT chest, abdomen, and pelvis with noncontrast phase for the follow-up of open repair of TAAA or dissection. Compared with CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, evaluation of the chest and abdomen only without imaging of the pelvis may fail to detect changing or new pathology in the pelvic vasculature. If venous phase or unenhanced CT has already been performed, additional imaging with CTA may not be required in some patients. CT Chest and Abdomen Without IV Contrast There is no relevant literature for CT chest and abdomen without IV contrast in the evaluation of follow-up of open repair of TAAA or dissection. Compared with CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, exclusion of the pelvis may fail to detect changing or new pathology in the pelvic vasculature. If venous phase or unenhanced CT has already been performed, additional imaging with CTA may not be required in some patients. CTA Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis With IV Contrast CTA of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis with IV contrast uses fast scan times to allow for rapid evaluation of the aorta. Acquisition of thin axial slices with subsequent reconstruction along with extensive and homogenous luminal opacification allows for precise and reproducible measurements of the aorta, which are valuable for monitoring aortic growth and interval changes [33,34]. In addition to monitoring aortic size and postsurgical complications such as anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, CTA can evaluate for endograft complications, kinking or occlusion/stenosis of branches of the graft, infection, or complications including thoracoabdominal aneurysm rupture or dissection extension [31,35]. Evidence comparing CTA with MRA for follow-up after surgical thoracoabdominal aortic repair is limited.
Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm or Dissection Treatment Planning and Follow Up. If venous phase or unenhanced CT has already been performed, additional imaging with CTA may not be required in some patients. CT Chest and Abdomen Without and With IV Contrast There is no relevant literature regarding venous phase CT chest, abdomen, and pelvis with noncontrast phase for the follow-up of open repair of TAAA or dissection. Compared with CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, evaluation of the chest and abdomen only without imaging of the pelvis may fail to detect changing or new pathology in the pelvic vasculature. If venous phase or unenhanced CT has already been performed, additional imaging with CTA may not be required in some patients. CT Chest and Abdomen Without IV Contrast There is no relevant literature for CT chest and abdomen without IV contrast in the evaluation of follow-up of open repair of TAAA or dissection. Compared with CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, exclusion of the pelvis may fail to detect changing or new pathology in the pelvic vasculature. If venous phase or unenhanced CT has already been performed, additional imaging with CTA may not be required in some patients. CTA Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis With IV Contrast CTA of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis with IV contrast uses fast scan times to allow for rapid evaluation of the aorta. Acquisition of thin axial slices with subsequent reconstruction along with extensive and homogenous luminal opacification allows for precise and reproducible measurements of the aorta, which are valuable for monitoring aortic growth and interval changes [33,34]. In addition to monitoring aortic size and postsurgical complications such as anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, CTA can evaluate for endograft complications, kinking or occlusion/stenosis of branches of the graft, infection, or complications including thoracoabdominal aneurysm rupture or dissection extension [31,35]. Evidence comparing CTA with MRA for follow-up after surgical thoracoabdominal aortic repair is limited.