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Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Ultrasound Imaging of the Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta in Mice to Determine Aneurysm Dimensions
Published on: March 8, 2019
Increased aortic wall thickness for the diagnosis of aortitis: a computed tomography-based study
Gleb Slobodin1,2, Afif Nakhleh1, Doron Rimar2,3
1Department of Internal Medicine A, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Computed tomography (CT)-measured aortic wall thickness (AWT) alone is often insufficient to confirm suspected aortitis. This imaging finding may be equivocal, especially in elderly patients, necessitating further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Inflammatory Diseases
Background:
- Aortitis diagnosis often relies on imaging findings.
- Computed tomography (CT) is a key imaging modality.
- Aortic wall thickness (AWT) is a potential imaging biomarker.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of CT-measured AWT as a standalone diagnostic criterion for suspected aortitis.
- To establish reference values for AWT based on age and comorbidities.
- To compare AWT in patients with and without aortitis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of CT scans from 20 aortitis patients and 250 controls.
- Manual measurement of AWT at multiple aortic segments.
- Correlation analysis of AWT with demographic data and comorbidities.
- Calculation of age-specific 97.5th percentile AWT values.
Main Results:
- AWT positively correlated with age, gender, and aortic calcifications.
- In nearly half of diagnosed aortitis cases, AWT fell below age-specific upper percentiles.
- Some aortitis patients exhibited AWT values within the normal range for their age group.
Conclusions:
- CT-measured AWT alone is not a definitive diagnostic finding for aortitis.
- The diagnostic value of increased AWT is limited, particularly in older individuals.
- Further, more specific imaging modalities are recommended for suspected aortitis.
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