The blood flow channel index as novel predictor of abdominal aortic aneurysm impending rupture based on the intraluminal thrombus angio-CT study. Issue 4 (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wiernicki, Ireneusz; Szumilowicz, Pawel; Kazimierczak, Arkadiusz; Falkowski, Aleksander; Rutkowski, Donald; Gutowski, Piotr
• Is Part Of: European journal of radiology. Volume 84:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 662
• Page End: 667
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Abdominal aortic aneurysm -- Intraluminal thrombus -- Blood flow channel index -- Computed tomography imaging; Medical radiology -- Periodicals; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiologie médicale -- Périodiques; Medical radiology; Periodicals; 616.075705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2014.12.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0720-048X

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: In this study the hypothesis that the thickness of the thinnest part of the thrombus, combined with bleeding into the intraluminal thrombus (ILT), is associated with a possible higher risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture was investigated, independently of aneurysm diameter, by using angio-CT. This article describes blood flow channel index based on the CT imaging findings that may help identify impending rupture prior to complete rupture. Methods: Computed tomographic images of 310 hospitalized patients with infrarenal AAA, were collected over a three-year period. They were divided into two main groups: 125 with bleeding into the ILT and control group 185 without the presence of blood in the thrombus. Patients were also analyzed in subgroups with ruptured, symptomatic and asymptomatic AAAs. A blood flow channel index was formulated as: maximal/minimal thickness ratio of thrombus from the same CT scan. Results: In dissected ILT group blood flow channel index was over a twofold higher than in group with intact ILT (19.0 [1.2–89.3] vs. (9.7 [1.3–38.9]; p < 0.001), respectively. Median thickness at the thinnest part of the ILT in dissected thrombus group was lower (1.3 mm [0.3–16.0]) than in group with intact ILT (1.7 mm [0.2–23.4]; p < 0.003). Conclusion: An association between a high blood flow channel index and bleeding into the ILT based on angio-CT study was demonstrated, and can suggest the aneurysm propensity for rupture.