Correlation between Aortic Wall Thickness and Coronary Artery Disease by 64 Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a dispersed pathology involving the coronary arteries, carotid arteries, aorta and peripheral arteries. It has been previously suggested that coronary and aortic atherosclerosis may be associated. Imaging of the aorta and the aortic wall can be performed by various imaging modalities including state-of-the-art multidetector computer tomography (MDCT). This study aimed to investigate a possible association between the MDCT-measured thickness of the thoracic aorta and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as its severity. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty candidates of coronary computer tomography angiography (CTA) with signs and symptoms suggestive of CAD were recruited in Tabriz Parsian and Iran CTA Centers. Contrast-enhanced MDCT examinations were performed using a 64 detector scanner. Maximum aortic wall thickness in the mid-portion of descending thoracic aorta (region of pulmonary trunk to diaphragm) was measured perpendicular to the center of the vessel. RESULTS: CAD was confirmed in 189 cases (54%) and the remaining 161 cases served as controls. The mean age of the cases, as well as the percentage of male subjects was significantly higher in the CAD group. The mean aortic wall thickness was also significantly higher in the patient group (2.21±0.63 mm vs. 1.88±0.58 mm; P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, however, the two groups turned up comparable as to the aortic wall thickness (P=0.31). The optimal cut-off point of aortic wall thickness was ≥2 mm in discriminating between CAD+ and CAD- groups, with a corresponding sensitivity and specificity of 65% and 57%, respectively. There was no significant association between aortic wall thickness and the severity of CAD (the number of significantly occluded coronary arteries). CONCLUSION: Aortic wall thickness is apparently neither an independent predictor of CAD nor is it associated with the severity of CAD in candidates of CTA.

A case of true brachial artery aneurysm in an elderly male.

Brachial artery aneurysms are relatively rare and are mostly pseudoaneurysms rather than true aneurysms, as true aneurysms are even rarer entities. Patients can be asymptomatic, or present with pulsatile masses, or ischemia due to associated thromboembolic complications. Distal embolism can occur with transient or minimal ischemic symptoms; however, aneurysm itself can thrombose entirely. The authors report a case of upper limb acute ischemia caused by true brachial artery aneurysm thrombosis in an elderly man, managed by reconstructive vascular surgery.