Imaging of traumatic arterial injuries in the neck with an emphasis on CTA

Emerg Radiol (2010) 17:109-122 DOI 10.1007/sl0140-009-0835-5

Imaging of traumatic arterial injuries in the neck with an emphasis on CTA

Jason W. Schroeder • Visveshwar Baskaran Nafi Aygun

Abstract
Arterial injuries in the neck may be secondary to blunt or penetrating trauma. Because of clinical difficulties in early identification of these injuries as well as their potentially catastrophic consequences, imaging is indispen-sible in the diagnosis of arterial injuries in the neck. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) has become the initial study of choice in management of these patients. We review the clinical and imaging features of vascular injuries of the neck with special emphasis on CTA.