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Updated: May 18, 2026
06:51
A Minimally Invasive Model of Aortic Stenosis in Swine
Published on: October 20, 2023
'Bovine' aortic arch - a marker for thoracic aortic disease
Matthew Hornick1, Remo Moomiaie, Hamid Mojibian
1Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
Cardiology
|October 6, 2012
Summary
The bovine aortic arch (BA) is more common in patients with thoracic aortic disease and is linked to faster aortic expansion. This anatomical variant is often overlooked in radiology reports.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Anatomical Variants
- Thoracic Aortic Disease
Background:
- The clinical significance of the bovine aortic arch (BA) remains understudied.
- Limited research exists on the association between BA and thoracic aortic disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of BA in patients with thoracic aortic disease.
- To determine if BA is associated with thoracic aortic aneurysm, dissection, rupture, or accelerated aortic growth.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of CT/MRI scans from 612 patients with thoracic aortic disease and 844 controls.
- Analysis of hospital records for aortic growth rate, dissection, and rupture prevalence in patients with thoracic aortic disease.
Main Results:
- BA was found in 26.3% of patients with thoracic aortic disease versus 16.4% in controls (p < 0.001).
- Aortic expansion rate was significantly higher in the BA group (0.29 cm/year vs. 0.09 cm/year, p = 0.004).
- No association was found between BA and the prevalence of dissection or rupture.
Conclusions:
- BA is significantly more prevalent in individuals with thoracic aortic disease.
- BA is associated with accelerated aortic expansion, suggesting it's not a benign variant.
- Radiology reports frequently fail to identify BA, highlighting a need for increased awareness.
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