Vascular CT Appearances
Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) Dissection CT Findings
- Intimal flap
- May have a thrombosed false lumen
- Aneurysmal dilatation
- High attenuation of fat around SMA
Other Information About SMA Dissection
Etiology:
- Associated with atherosclerosis, hypertension, fibromuscular dysplasia
Epidemiology:
- Rare
- More common in males
- Typically presents in the 5th decade of life
Presentation:
- May be asymptomatic and found incidentally
- Abdominal pain
- Severe cases may have shock
Prognosis:
- SMA dissection can be managed
- More severe cases will need surgical intervention
Related Pearls: SMA
Related Lectures:
CT of the Aorta & Its Branches: Acute Processes - Part 2
CT of the Abdominal Aorta and Its Branches: Aneurysms, Dissections and Vasculitis - Part 2