THE HALF-MOON SIGN - A USEFUL ROENTGEN SIGN OF SACCULAR ANEURYSM OF THE AORTIC-ARCH

Citation
Js. Lin et al., THE HALF-MOON SIGN - A USEFUL ROENTGEN SIGN OF SACCULAR ANEURYSM OF THE AORTIC-ARCH, Chest, 109(1), 1996, pp. 127-130
Citations number
10
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Respiratory System
Journal title
ChestACNP
ISSN journal
0012-3692
Volume
109
Issue
1
Year of publication
1996
Pages
127 - 130
Database
ISI
SICI code
0012-3692(1996)109:1<127:THS-AU>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
Objective: The half-moon sign is defined as a shadow seen on the later al chest radiograph consisting of a smooth, partially demarcated opaci ty with the rounded portion of the half moon projecting over the aorti c lumen at the level of the aortic arch, but the rest of the opacity m erging with the aorta. In this study, we intended to evaluate the clin ical usefulness of half-moon sign in aiding a diagnosis of saccular an eurysm of the aortic arch. Methods: This series consisted of 57 patien ts with aortic arch aneurysm and 46 patients with a variety of nonvasc ular intrathoracic masses that presented as soft-tissue masses adjacen t to the aortic arch on the frontal chest radiographs. The half-moon s ign was evaluated independently by two senior chest radiologists who h ad no knowledge of the final causes. Results: The half-moon sign was s hown on the lateral chest radiographs in 5 of 10 patients with saccula r aortic arch aneurysm but absent in 47 patients with fusiform aortic arch aneurysm. Furthermore, this roentgen sign was not seen on the lat eral chest radiographs in 46 patients with nonvascular intrathoracic m asses. In this selected population, the sensitivity and specificity of the half-moon sign in aiding a diagnosis of saccular aneurysm of the aortic arch were 50% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: The half-moon sign shown on the lateral chest radiograph is highly suggestive of th e saccular aortic arch aneurysm.