[Atherosclerotic aortic ulcers monitoring by electron beam CT or multi-slice CT].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the evolution of medically treated atherosclerotic aortic ulcers by computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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].


CONCLUSIONS
CT was a useful tool for deflecting atherosclerotic aortic ulcers and monitoring therapeutic effects.
Zhi
Ai-hua
AH
Department of Radiology, Cardiovascular Institute and Fu Wai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medicine Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China.
Dai
Ru-ping
RP
Jiang
Shi-liang
SL
Huang
Lian-jun
LJ
Lü
Bin
B
Cao
Cheng
C
Bai
Hua
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001027:Aortography; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014456:Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*