Aortic dissection is a tear in the inner wall of the aorta — the large artery leaving the heart — which lets blood split between the layers of the wall.
The classic symptom is sudden, severe, tearing chest or back pain that moves through the body. Some people also have differences in pulse or blood pressure between arms, weakness, fainting, or stroke-like symptoms.
Imaging is the test that confirms the diagnosis, shows which parts of the aorta are torn, and tells the surgical team where to act.
CT angiography is the fastest first-line test; MRI or transoesophageal echocardiography can be used when CT isn't available or contrast isn't safe.
Treatment depends on which part of the aorta is torn — Type A (closer to the heart) usually needs urgent open surgery; Type B (further down) is often managed with strict blood pressure control and endovascular stent-grafting when needed.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
