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Assessment of thoracic aortic elasticity: a preliminary study using electrocardiographically gated dual-source CT

  • Vascular-Interventional
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objectives

To gain a new insight into the elastic properties of the thoracic aorta in patients without aortic diseases using electrocardiographically (ECG)-gated dual-source (DS) CT.

Methods

56 subjects with no cardiovascular disease, selected from 2,700 people undergoing ECG-gated DSCT examination, were divided into three groups according to their age. CT data were reconstructed in 5% step throughout the RR interval. Diameter and area were measured at the curve of the ascending aorta (AA) and at the same level of the descending aorta (DA). The pulsation and elasticity of the aorta were evaluated.

Results

Aortic diameter changes were noted throughout the cardiac cycle. The maximum average diameter was seen at an RR interval of 24.02 ± 4.99% for the AA and 25.63 ± 4.77% for the DA. The minimum was at 93.5 ± 4.04% for the AA and 96.6 ± 4.58% for the DA. There was an age-dependent decrease in elasticity, while different correlation coefficients were found between various age groups and different elastic parameters.

Conclusion

The properties of aortic pulsation and wall elasticity could be well shown by ECG-gated DSCT. The new findings regarding segment difference and age relevance were significant and should be taken into account in clinical trials and treatments for the elasticity related cardiovascular diseases.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Siemens healthcare for their prototype software and technical assistance. Thanks to Dr Yanhua Duan and Dr Dawei Wu for their help on patients collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jingwu Road No.324, Jinan, People’s Republic of China

    Ning Li, Lijun Guo, Haitao Sun, Fei Gao & Cheng Liu

  2. Siemens AG, Healthcare Sector, Imaging & IT Division, Computed Tomography, Siemensstr. 1, 91301, Forchheim, Germany

    Thomas Beck

  3. Siemens Ltd., China, Healthcare, No.7, Wangjing Zhonghuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102, People’s Republic of China

    Jiuhong Chen

  4. Siemens AG, Siemens Healthcare Consulting, Allee am Röthelheimpark 3A, 91052, Erlangen, Germany

    Christina Biermann

Authors
  1. Ning Li
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  2. Thomas Beck
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  3. Jiuhong Chen
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  4. Christina Biermann
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  5. Lijun Guo
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  6. Haitao Sun
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  7. Fei Gao
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  8. Cheng Liu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cheng Liu.

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Li, N., Beck, T., Chen, J. et al. Assessment of thoracic aortic elasticity: a preliminary study using electrocardiographically gated dual-source CT. Eur Radiol 21, 1564–1572 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2077-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2077-7

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