Multi-detector computed tomography in the diagnosis and management of acute aortic syndromes

Figure 6 A 45-year-old with a type B aortic dissection. An axial image from a computed tomography aortogram at the upper abdominal aorta shows the “beak” sign (arrow): note the acute angle between the dissection flap and the outer wall of the larger calibre false lumen. The “beak” or space formed by the acute angle is filled with high-attenuation contrast-enhanced blood in this case but it may stay unopacified when filled with clots.