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Published on: September 19, 2018
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Linear growth pattern can be used to predict ascending aortic aneurysm growth
Iida-Mari Viitala1,2, Tuomas Selander3, Marja Hedman1,4
1Heart and Thoracic Surgery, Heart Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal : SCJ
|November 19, 2024
Summary
Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAA) grow slowly, with a median rate of 0.37 mm/year. A linear model can predict ATAA growth, potentially optimizing surveillance intervals for patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Current guidelines recommend surveillance imaging for ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) every three years.
- Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms typically exhibit minimal growth rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the real-world growth patterns of ATAAs.
- To determine optimal surveillance timing for individual patients based on aneurysm growth.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 209 patients with ATAA from 2007-2023.
- Aortic dimensions measured using computed tomography (CT) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).
- Exploration of ATAA growth patterns using collected measurements.
Main Results:
- Median ATAA growth rate was 0.37 mm/year over a mean follow-up of 5.0 years.
- 21.5% of ATAAs showed no expansion during surveillance.
- A linear model effectively described the growth of expanding ATAAs.
Conclusions:
- The majority of ATAAs demonstrate a very low growth rate.
- A linear model can predict ATAA growth, aiding in personalized surveillance strategies.
- Findings may inform adjustments to current surveillance guidelines for ATAA.
