title: Atheromas of the thoracic aorta: A comparison of transesophageal echocardiography and breath-hold gadolinium-enhanced 3-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography.
abstract: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been the procedure of choice for identifying thoracic aortic atheromas. All patients over a 2-year period who underwent both TEE and magnetic resonance angiography of the thoracic aorta within 1 month were identified. The largest plaque in 3 aortic segments (ascending, arch, and descending) was measured. Thirty patients (16 men; 66.8 +/- 12.9 years) were studied. The mean size of the atheromas in the arch was larger as measured by TEE compared with magnetic resonance angiography (3.4 vs 1.4 mm, P =.01). However, the mean atheroma size was similar in the ascending aorta (1.9 vs 1.3 mm, P =.5) and descending aorta (3.9 vs 3.5 mm, P =.66). Of 24 aortic segments with plaques measuring >/=5 mm (with high embolic risk), 22 (92%) were seen on TEE and only 13 (54%) on magnetic resonance angiography (P =. 003). In conclusion, although both techniques are complementary, TEE does identify more high-risk plaques.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Radiology, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. Paul.tunick@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kutz
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tunick
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Krinsky
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kronzon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media