Aortic dissection chest x ray

Associate Editor-In-Chief:

Chest X Ray
Chest X-Ray Abnormalities:
 * An increased aortic diameter is the most common CXR finding, seen in up to 84% of patients.
 * A widened mediastinum is the next most common finding, seen in 15-20%.
 * Normal in 17%.
 * Pleural effusion (hemothorax) in the absence of CHF can also be another clue to dissection.

Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by: David Feller-Kopman, MD and C. Michael Gibson M.S., M.D.