Atherosclerotic aortic ulcers monitoring by electron beam CT or multi-slice CT / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the evolution of medically treated atherosclerotic aortic ulcers by computed tomography (CT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-five patients (31 men and 4 women, aged from 40 to 79 years, mean 56.2 +/- 10.8 years) with known aortic ulcers were monitored by CT (follow up time 7 - 730 days, mean 135 days), 80 - 100 ml contrast media (Ultravist 300 or 320, or Omnipaque 300 or 320 mg/ml) was injected with a rate of 3.5 - 4.5 ml/s. The scan delayed time was 18 - 30 s. Ulcers dimensions were measured according to maximum depth, maximum length and maximum width.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty-one patients with intramural hematomas and 1 patient with atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm without intramural hematoma were medically treated and another 3 patients were surgically treated. Intramural hematoma regression was monitored in 31 medically treated patients with intramural hematomas. CT was repeated at 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months. Intramural hematoma resolved gradually during follow up [thickness: (7.69 +/- 4.24) mm at 3 months, (3.06 +/- 1.67) mm at 6 months, P < 0.05 vs. 1st CT: (11.96 +/- 4.16) mm while ulcer maximum depth (11.17 +/- 6.03) mm at 3 months, (11.35 +/- 5.59) mm at 6 months, P < 0.05 vs. 1st CT: (7.36 +/- 6.61) mm, maximum width (14.40 +/- 6.35) mm at 3 months, (18.55 +/- 10.94) mm at 6 months, P < 0.05 vs. 1st CT: (7.15 +/- 6.39) mm, maximum length (17.12 +/- 7.15) mm at 3 months, (18.13 +/- 10.89) mm at 6 months, P < 0.05 vs. 1st CT: (11.64 +/- 10.06) mm increased progressively during follow-up].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CT was a useful tool for deflecting atherosclerotic aortic ulcers and monitoring therapeutic effects.</p>

The diagnosis of atherosclerotic aortic ulcer by electron beam CT / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of electron beam computed tomography (EBCT)in the diagnosis of atherosclerotic aortic ulcer.Methods Sixty-eight consecutive patients(55 men and 13 women,aged 40—85 years,mean 65.12?9.55 years)with atherosclerotic aortic ulcer,who underwent EBCT scans from December 2001 to December 2004,were studied retrospectively.Contrast- enhanced continuous volume scanning(CVS)was performed by Imatron C-150XP EBCT scanner with 6 mm or 3 mm slice thickness and 100 milliseconds acquisition time.The scan was started 18—30 s after the injection of 80—100 ml contrast medium at the rate of 3.5—4.5 ml/s.Results In sixty-eight patients with atherosclerotie aortic ulcer,50 patients had acute aortic syndromes,36 had intramural hematomas,15 had atherosclerotic aortic aneurysms,3 had aortic dissections.46 patients with progresive ulcer usually had acute aortic syndrome while 22 patients with stable ulcer didn't(P