Imagerie de l’aorte abdominale pathologique

Abstract

After a review of imaging techniques applicable to the abdominal aorta, this article describes the pathologies involved and the place of imaging in patient management. Aneurysms, the most common abdominal aortic pathology are presented in detail, emphasizing signs of complication (inflammation, rupture), clinical assessment and postoperative follow-up. Then the article successively describes normal and pathological imaging of the operated aorta, inflammatory aortitis (mainly Takayasu's arteritis), aortic infections, histiocytosis aortic stenosis, and thrombosis as well as emboligenic aortitis, dissections situated in an abdominal aneurysm, trauma, birth defects and aortic tumors. Ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings are described since detailed investigations of abdominal aorta pathologies rely heavily on these imaging techniques.