RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To detect distensibility changes that might be an indicator for an increased risk of rupture, cross-sectional area changes of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) have been determined using ECG-gated CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Distensibility measurements of the aorta were performed in 67 patients with AAA. Time-resolved images were acquired with a four detector-row CT system using a modified CT-angiography protocol. Pulsatility-related cross-sectional area changes were calculated above and at AAA level by semiautomatic segmentation; distensibility values were obtained using additional systemic blood pressure measurements. Values were compared for small Ø<5 cm (n=44) and large Ø>5 cm (n=23) aneurysms. RESULTS: The aorta could be segmented successfully in all patients. Upstream AAA distensibility D was significantly higher than at AAA level for both groups: means above AAA (at AAA) D(above)=(1.3+/-0.8) x 10(-5) Pa(-1) (D(AAA )=(0.6+/-0.5) x 10(-5) Pa(-1)) t-test p(D)<0.0001. Differences of the distensibility between smaller and larger aneurysms were not found to be significant. CONCLUSION: Distensibility can be measured non-invasively with ECG-gated CT. The reduction of distensibility within aneurysms compared to normal proximal aorta is subtle; the lack of difference between both small and large aneurysms suggests that this reduction occurs early in the aneurysm's development. Hence, reduced distensibility might be a predictive parameter in patients with high risk of aortic disease.
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To detect distensibility changes that might be an indicator for an increased risk of rupture, cross-sectional area changes of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) have been determined using ECG-gated CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Distensibility measurements of the aorta were performed in 67 patients with AAA. Time-resolved images were acquired with a four detector-row CT system using a modified CT-angiography protocol. Pulsatility-related cross-sectional area changes were calculated above and at AAA level by semiautomatic segmentation; distensibility values were obtained using additional systemic blood pressure measurements. Values were compared for small Ø<5 cm (n=44) and large Ø>5 cm (n=23) aneurysms. RESULTS: The aorta could be segmented successfully in all patients. Upstream AAA distensibility D was significantly higher than at AAA level for both groups: means above AAA (at AAA) D(above)=(1.3+/-0.8) x 10(-5) Pa(-1) (D(AAA )=(0.6+/-0.5) x 10(-5) Pa(-1)) t-test p(D)<0.0001. Differences of the distensibility between smaller and larger aneurysms were not found to be significant. CONCLUSION: Distensibility can be measured non-invasively with ECG-gated CT. The reduction of distensibility within aneurysms compared to normal proximal aorta is subtle; the lack of difference between both small and large aneurysms suggests that this reduction occurs early in the aneurysm's development. Hence, reduced distensibility might be a predictive parameter in patients with high risk of aortic disease.
Authors: R Erbel; F Alfonso; C Boileau; O Dirsch; B Eber; A Haverich; H Rakowski; J Struyven; K Radegran; U Sechtem; J Taylor; C Zollikofer; W W Klein; B Mulder; L A Providencia Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2001-09 Impact factor: 29.983
Authors: Alain Lalande; Philippe Khau van Kien; Nicolas Salvé; Douraied Ben Salem; Louis Legrand; Paul Michael Walker; Jean-Eric Wolf; François Brunotte Journal: Invest Radiol Date: 2002-12 Impact factor: 6.016
Authors: Arno Teutelink; Annemarieke Rutten; Bart E Muhs; Marco Olree; Joost A van Herwaarden; Alexander M de Vos; Mathias Prokop; Frans L Moll; Hence J M Verhagen Journal: J Endovasc Ther Date: 2006-04 Impact factor: 3.487
Authors: P A Stonebridge; T Draper; J Kelman; J Howlett; P L Allan; R Prescott; C V Ruckley Journal: Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg Date: 1996-01 Impact factor: 7.069
Authors: Benoit Desjardins; Karin E Dill; Scott D Flamm; Christopher J Francois; Marie D Gerhard-Herman; Sanjeeva P Kalva; M Ashraf Mansour; Emile R Mohler; Isabel B Oliva; Matthew P Schenker; Clifford Weiss; Frank J Rybicki Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2012-05-27 Impact factor: 2.357