Bibliogr. s. S32

Acute traumatic aortic injury (ATAI) is a serious clinical condition in patients with multiorgan trauma. It results from motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian-automobile collisions and, less frequently, falls from height. Young men comprise the majority of patients with ATAI. In this publication we present examples of posttraumatic aortic changes identified in CT polytrauma (trauma CT) followed by CT angiography examinations performed between 2010 and 2012 in the CT and MRI Laboratory of Clinical Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Department in Provincial Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow. The aim of this study is to present morphological variants of posttraumatic aortic injuries and potential CT imaging pitfalls. Widened mediastinal silhouette in CT scoutview (topogram) may suggest the presence of posttraumatic lesions of thoracic aorta. In trauma CT scan, a hemorrhage may be suggested by blurring of the border between the aorta and periaortic adipose tissue, and/or increase of mediastinal adipose tissue density. Sudden change in aortic wall outlines, extravasation of blood/contrast medium outside the vessel, and/or delamination (tear) of tunica intima are likely changes visible in CT imaging after administration of contrast medium. When assessing CT examination one should keep in mind possible changes, which may mimic thoracic aortic injury, including thymic residual tissue, "ductus bump" or mediastinal hemorrhage of a different etiology. ATAI is associated with high mortality, which is directly dependent on the time from injury to implementation of treatment. A seemingly good condition of the patient should not influence the extent or rapidity of diagnostic imaging.