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Quantitative assessment of the entire thoracic aorta from magnetic resonance images

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2010

Ryan K. Johnson ,
Senthil Premraj ,
Sonali S. Patel ,
Andreas Wahle ,
Alan Stolpen ,
Milan Sonka  and
Thomas D. Scholz
Ryan K. Johnson
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
Senthil Premraj
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
Sonali S. Patel
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
Andreas Wahle
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
Alan Stolpen
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
Milan Sonka
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
Thomas D. Scholz*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
*
Correspondence to: T. D. Scholz, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, 200 Hawkins Drive, 2801 JPP, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States of America. Tel: (319) 356 3537; Fax: (319) 356 4693; E-mail: thomas-scholz@uiowa.edu
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Abstract

Objectives

Although magnetic resonance imaging is a primary modality for following patients with connective tissue diseases, only a limited amount of the image data is utilised. The purpose of this study was to show the clinical applicability of an automated four-dimensional analysis method of magnetic resonance images of the aorta and develop normative data for the cross-sectional area of the entire thoracic aorta.

Study design

Magnetic resonance imaging was obtained serially over 3 years from 32 healthy individuals and 24 patients with aortopathy and a personal or family history of connective tissue disorder. Graph theory-based segmentation was used to determine the cross-sectional area for the thoracic aorta. Healthy individual data were used to construct a nomogram representing the maximum cross-sectional area 5th–95th percentile along the entire thoracic aorta. Aortic root diameters calculated from the cross-sectional area were compared to measured diameters from echocardiographic data. The cross-sectional area of the entire thoracic aorta in patients was compared to healthy individuals.

Results

Calculated aortic root diameters correlated with measured diameters from echo data – correlation coefficient was 0.74–0.87. The cross-sectional area in patients was significantly greater in the aortic root, ascending aorta, and descending aorta compared to healthy individuals.

Conclusion

The presentation of the dimensional data for the entire thoracic aorta shows an important clinical tool for following patients with connective tissue disorders and aortopathy.

Keywords

Aortopathyconnective tissue diseaseMarfan syndromethoracic aortic aneurysmcross-sectional area
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , April 2011 , pp. 170 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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