CT detection of pulmonary embolism and aortic dissection.

Triage of patients with acute, potentially life-threatening chest pain is one of the most daunting challenges currently facing emergency department physicians. Acute aortic syndrome and pulmonary embolism are two potentially underlying causes. For both, computed tomography has become the de facto clinical reference standard for diagnosis. This article discusses state-of-the-art computed tomography for the detection of these disorders, including recent advances and future perspectives.