OBJECTIVETo assess the value of MDCT with vessel probe(VP) in the diagnosis and treatment of isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD).

METHODSClinical and imaging data of 15 patients with ISMAD admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from June 2008 to May 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Relationship among radiograpic features, clinical symptoms and therapeutic options of ISMAD was examined based on the imaging of 64-MDCT with VP.

RESULTSThe dissection crevasse of all the 15 patients located in anterior arterial wall, and the distance was(24.3±9.7) mm from the origin of SMA. Meanwhile dissection crevasse of 73.3%(11/15) patients located in the zone within 1 cm of proximal end and 1 cm of distal end of the proximal SMA curvature. There were significant differences between patients without abdominal pain(8 cases) and those with abdominal pain(7 cases) in dissection length, minor diameter ratio of true lumen to false lumen, major diameter ratio of true lumen to false lumen(all P<0.01). According to classification of Yun, there were 5 patients of typeI( and 3 type II(a, whose conservative treatment were successful. In other 7 patients of type II(b, 3 patients received successful conservative treatment, and 4 patients had symptom remission after turning to interventional treatment or surgery.

CONCLUSIONS64-MDCT with VP can clearly depict the image manifestation of ISMAD, which provides evidence for the diagnosis and therapeutic options of ISMAD.