Proximal thoracic aortic diameters: transesophageal-echocardiography- versus computed-tomography-derived measurements

Clin Imaging. 2016 Mar-Apr;40(2):191-9. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.10.010. Epub 2015 Oct 27.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare proximal aortic measurements from electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography (CT) to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and to evaluate differences in cusp-cusp and cusp-commissure CT measurements of sinus of Valsalva (SOV).

Methods: This retrospective study (n=25) compared aortic diameters from CT using manual double-oblique multiplanar reformats (MPRs) and semiautomatic centerline method to TEE.

Results: CT MPR and centerline measurements were higher than TEE for sinotubular junction and ascending aorta. At SOV, cusp-cusp diameters (MPR and centerline methods) and cusp-commissure measurement (centerline method) were larger than TEE.

Conclusions: Aortic measurements were larger on CT than TEE. Precise difference depended on location and measurement technique.

Keywords: Aorta; COMPUTED tomography; Diameter; Thoracic; Transesophageal echocardiography.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aorta, Thoracic / diagnostic imaging*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Young Adult