Two dimensional echocardiographic recognition of the descending thoracic aorta.

Two dimensional echocardiography was used to identify the descending thoracic aorta in 106 subjects. In 12 of these subjects, contrast injection techniques were used to identify this structure as it descended posteriorly adjacent to the atrioventricular groove. The course of the descending thoracic aorta was mapped using both the long axis and transverse axis views. The normal descending thoracic aorta (26 subjects) measured 10 +/- 1.4 mm/m2 during diastole. Unusual M mode echocardiographic patterns of the descending aorta may be confused with other disease states; they are clarified with the two dimensional study. The size and appearance of the descending aorta in different types of cardiovascular disease, including aortic aneurysm, in 80 patients are described. It is anticipated that two dimensional echocardiography will prove to be a useful method of studying patients with aortic disease.