Advances in determining abdominal aortic aneurysm size and growth

Figure 1 An abdominal aortic aneurysm after three dimensional reconstruction. In panel A the axis are not perpendicular to the vessel lumen while in panel B they are. An overestimation of the maximum diameter has been observed using axial versus orthogonal measurements.

Figure 2 Two abdominal aortic aneurysms are presented after three dimensional reconstruction of the computed tomography images. In the left panels cross sections are perpendicular to the y-axis of the CT scanner coordinator system (axial), while in the right panels cross-section are perpendicular to the centerline of flow (orthogonal). Large discrepancies between methods may be encountered in case of high regional asymmetry as in case B. CT: Computed tomography.

Figure 3 A case of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. An increase of 4 mm/year (may not be considered significant according to current standards taking into account increases > 5 mm), is accompanied by an increase or 20 mL representing 25% of its initial volume which is significant. Volume growth is not always represented in Dmax increase.

Figure 4 Cross-sections perpendicular to the centerline with regard to sectional areas for initial and follow-up abdominal aortic aneurysm-models. Maximum sectional areas present values of 22.5 cm² and 15 cm² respectively. Color scale on the centerlines depicts distance along the centerline with 8 cm representing aortic bifurcation. Sections areas are displayed against distance along the centerline indicating that maximum values are obtained in the same distance from aortic bifurcation (approximately 4 cm). Figure originally published at Kontopodis et al[50].