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Thoracic aorta--dilated or not?

Matias Hannuksela1, Stefan Lundqvist, Bo Carlberg

  • 1Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Heart Center, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. matias.hannuksela@vll.se

Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal : SCJ
|June 27, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Normal thoracic aortic diameters increase with age, influencing assessment of aortic disease. Formulas are provided to calculate upper normal limits based on age, sex, and BMI for accurate diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Radiology
  • Anatomy

Background:

  • Accurate assessment of aortic disease relies on understanding normal thoracic aortic diameters.
  • Establishing reference values is crucial for clinical interpretation of imaging studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine normal thoracic aortic diameters in a patient cohort.
  • To investigate the influence of age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) on aortic dimensions.

Main Methods:

  • Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax was performed on 77 patients.
  • Thoracic aortic diameters were measured at multiple levels in the ascending and descending aorta.
  • Measurements were analyzed in relation to patient age, sex, weight, and height.

Main Results:

  • Thoracic aortic diameter significantly increases with age.
  • Sex and BMI also influence aortic diameter, though to a lesser extent than age.
  • Formulas derived: Ascending aorta D(mm) = 31 + 0.16*age; Descending aorta D(mm) = 21 + 0.16*age.

Conclusions:

  • Age is the primary determinant of normal thoracic aortic diameter.
  • Incorporating age into the assessment is essential for accurate detection of aortic dilation.
  • Sex and anthropometric factors play a secondary role in aortic sizing.
Abstract

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