The windsock sign refers to appearances seen in type A thoracic aortic dissections on contrast CT. It results from intimointimal intussusception between the true and false dissected lumens of the thoracic aorta. The altering density of contrast between the dissection lumens which taper distally resembles a windsock.
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Clinical presentation
Clinical manifestations of aortic dissection include
- backache
- acute severe chest pain
- hypotension
Pathology
Windsock sign involves circumferential dissection of aortic lumen followed by the impediment of origin of the supra-aortic vessels / occlusion of the aortic lumen.
History and etymology
Bostroem first described the phenomenon of complete circular dissection of the aorta. Hufnagel was the first to use the term "intimo-intimal intussusception of aorta" for this entity 4. Karabulut et al in 1998 originated the windsock sign for the CT appearance of this 3.
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