Aortic wall thickness assessed by multidetector computed tomography as a predictor of coronary atherosclerosis

Abstract

Purpose of this study was the evaluation of the thoracic aortic wall thickness as a potential identifier of patients at increased risk for future cardiac events. Thoracic aortic wall thickness was measured with MDCT in 160 patients. The CT-scans were implemented as non-invasive coronary angiography studies. Relationships between aortic wall thickness, sex, age, major risk factors and atherosclerotic plaque burden of the coronary arteries were explored. Higher values of maximum aortic wall thickness of the descending aorta (women P = 0.02, men P = 0.01) were found in patients with coronary atherosclerosis, compared to patients with same gender but excluded atherosclerosis. Aortic wall thickness of the mid-portion of the descending aorta of 3.0 mm is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) with a specificity of 96.6% (sensitivity 27.5%) and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 93.3%. For patients with two or more major risk factors and a maximum wall thickness of equal or more than 2.6 mm we found a PPV of 100%. We conclude that measurements of maximum wall thickness of the descending aorta are a potential tool for detecting patients with coronary atherosclerosis. The potential effect of combining measurements of aortic wall thickness at routine chest CT studies with a possible cardiovascular screening is substantial and merits further study.

Characterization of the Infarct Pattern Caused by Vulnerable Aortic Arch Atheroma: DWI and Multidetector Row CT Study

“…In terms of plaque thickness, we chose the 6 mm thickness criterion for vulnerable AAA rather than 4 mm which most previous studies with TEE used [5]. Since MDCT assessed maximum wall size and not intima-media thickness as TEE, we added 2 mm, which was known as aortic wall thickness in healthy individuals [17]. Soft plaque was defined as the presence of clearly visualized area of hypoattenuation (<80 Hounsfield units) suggestive of thrombus [18,19].…”

Wall Shear Stress in a Subject Specific Human Aorta — Influence of Fluid-Structure Interaction

“…However, without own measurements of the thickness, a uniform thickness of 1 mm was assumed and offseted from the measured inner wall. This value is considered low, but still physiological, according to CT-scans of normal healthy men [Jeltsch et al, 2009]. The geometry was constrained in axial direction at the in-and outlets, but allowed to move in radial and circumferential directions at all locations.…”

High levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone are associated with aortic wall thickness in the general population

“…* Till Ittermann till.ittermann@uni-greifswald.de demonstrated a positive association between elevated AWT and increased risk for coronary artery disease [3,[7][8][9] and coronary artery stenosis [10] as a major manifestation of atherosclerosis. Moreover, increased AWT has been shown to be related to an increased lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease [11].…”