[The value of the chest radiograph in thoracic aortic dissection and traumatic rupture (author's transl)].

The plain chest radiographs of 40 patients with angiographically proven thoracic aortic dissection or traumatic rupture are analyzed retrospectively with regard to their value. Only in two cases completely normal findings were observed. In all other cases characteristic changes could be observed leading to an immediate aortography. The plain chest radiograph is very important in the decision whether and when an aortography has to be performed on clinical suspected patients.