Korean Circ J.  2002 Jan;32(1):53-60. 10.4070/kcj.2002.32.1.53.

Changes of Aortic Morphology after Aortic Dissection Evaluated by CT Angiography

• Choi JO
• Kim YS
• Hwang ES
• Oh BH
• Chung JW
• Park JH
• Oh SI
• Chae IH
• Kim CH
• Sohn DW
• Lee MM
• Park YB
• Choi YS

• KMID: 1643995
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2002.32.1.53

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
In aortic dissection (AD), CT angiography (CTA) is useful both in initial diagnosis and long term follow-up. In this study, we used CTA to evaluate the morphologic changes of aorta after AD.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
We reviewed the initial and follow-up CTA images of 43 patients with AD. The diagnoses were double-lumen dissection (n=13), intramural hematoma (n=11), and residual dissection after surgery (n=19). The duration of CTA follow-up was 3.3+/-1.9 years (range 7 - 89 months). After reviewing the CTA images of the thoracic aorta level, and of the upper and lower abdominal aorta levels, we compared the areas of total lumen, true lumen and false lumen and the area ratio of true/total lumen.
RESULTS
Changes in luminal areas were greatest in the thoracic aorta, where both the true lumen area and the ratio of true/total lumen area increased. Subgroup analysis revealed that although the total lumen area increased significantly in the classic AD group, no changes were noted in the ratio of true/total lumen area. Only the increase in false lumen area (from 5.8 cm 2 to 9.0 cm 2) was significant (p=0.036). In patients with intramural hematoma, a decrease in total lumen area and an increase in the ratio of true/total lumen area were noted.
CONCLUSION
In classic AD, false lumen dilatation occurs with false lumen enlargement, whereas in intramural hematoma total aorta size decreases with any increase in the ratio of true/total lumen area.

Keyword

Dissection; Aorta; Angiography; Tomography, X-ray computed

MeSH Terms

Angiography*
Aorta
Aorta, Abdominal
Aorta, Thoracic
Diagnosis
Dilatation
Follow-Up Studies
Hematoma
Humans
Phenobarbital
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Phenobarbital