Acute aortic syndrome: What do you need to know?

Acute aortic syndrome is a potentially fatal clinical entity that encompasses different pathologies affecting the wall of the aorta: aortic dissection, intramural haematoma, penetrating aortic ulcer and other less common entities. All are characterised by the sudden onset of thoracic-abdominal pain and all share similar features, preventing differentiation. Computed tomography plays a crucial role in the diagnostic process, enabling a rapid and accurate assessment and contributing to early therapeutic management.

This article reviews the main entities that make up acute aortic syndrome, their aetiologies, pathophysiology and characteristic radiological findings. Imaging tests are mainly used to confirm the diagnosis and determine the location and extent as well as possible complications.