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Normal diameter of the thoracic aorta in adults: a magnetic resonance imaging study

  • Radiologic Anatomy
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Abstract

To determine the evolution of the diameter of the thoracic aorta with age in order to detect dilatation more reliably by imaging, we performed a retrospective analysis of the MRI examinations of the normal thoracic aorta of 66 subjects aged 44.1±19.1 years (range 19.1–82.4 years) obtained between 1991 and 2000 on a Magnetom SP 42 1T apparatus (Siemens) using T1-weighted spin echo sequences with electrocardiographic synchronization. Sixteen measurements were made in the axial plane, the oblique sagittal plane in the axis of the aortic arch, and the oblique frontal plane perpendicular to the latter at the level of the ascending aorta, the arch and the descending thoracic aorta. We found an increase in the thoracic aorta diameter and a significant relationship between this diameter and the age of our subjects, wherever the measure was performed. However, there was no systematic correlation between aortic diameter and age. The aortic diameter evolved with age and a marked difference seemed to exist in measurements made in groups younger and older than 40 years. This study, conducted on a small population of 66 patients, thus helps to define a normal aortic diameter, thereby making the diagnosis of pathological dilatation of the aorta more reliable.

Résumé

Pour déterminer l'évolution du diamètre de l'aorte thoracique en fonction de l'âge afin de pouvoir juger d'une éventuelle dilatation sur les examens d'imagerie, les auteurs ont analysé rétrospectivement des Imageries par Résonance Magnétique d'aortes thoraciques normales de 66 sujets âgés de 44,1±19,1 ans (19,1 à 82,4 ans) réalisés de 1991 à 2000 sur un appareillage Magnetom SP 42 de 1 T (Siemens, Erlangen) en séquences de spin écho pondérées en T1 avec synchronisation à l'électrocardiogramme; 16 mesures étaient effectuées dans les plans transversal, sagittal oblique dans l'axe de l'arc de l'aorte, et frontal oblique perpendiculaire au précédent au niveau de l'aorte ascendante, l'arc de l'aorte et l'aorte thoracique descendante. Il existait un accroissement significatif du diamètre de l'aorte sur les mesures effectuées en fonction de l'âge. En revanche il n'existait pas de corrélation systématique entre diamètre aortique et âge. Le diamètre aortique évoluait en fonction de l'âge de manière significative avec une différence qui paraissait nette entre la cohorte des sujets de moins de 40 ans celle des patients de plus de 40 ans. Cette étude, effectuée sur une courte série de 66 patients, permet donc d'approcher le diamètre aortique normal et d'aider au diagnostic de dilatation pathologique de l'aorte.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, CHU G. Montpied, BP 69, 63003, Clermont-Ferrand cedex 1, France

    J.-M. Garcier, V. Petitcolin, R. Mofid, A. Ravel & L. Boyer

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, BP 38, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand cedex 1, France

    J.-M. Garcier, M. Filaire & G. Vanneuville

  3. Department of Cardio-vascular surgery, CHU G. Montpied, BP 69, 63003, Clermont-Ferrand cedex 1, France

    K. Azarnouch

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  1. J.-M. Garcier
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  2. V. Petitcolin
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  3. M. Filaire
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Correspondence to J.-M. Garcier.

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Garcier, JM., Petitcolin, V., Filaire, M. et al. Normal diameter of the thoracic aorta in adults: a magnetic resonance imaging study. Surg Radiol Anat 25, 322–329 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-003-0140-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-003-0140-z

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