title: Multimodality imaging of aortic dimensions: comparison of transthoracic echocardiography with multidetector row computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With recent advances in multimodality cardiac imaging, a number of methods exist for the noninvasive assessment of aortic disease. Although multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) remains the gold standard for aortic measurements, there are a number of limitations including radiation and contrast-induced nephropathy. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an alternative to MDCT for providing accurate anatomic assessment of aortic root and ascending aorta dimensions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy of two-dimensional (2D) TTE for determining aortic measurements in comparison to MDCT, a retrospective study of individuals with varying aortic root and ascending aorta dimensions was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 116 patients (77 males, mean age 49 ± 12 years) in total. The maximum aortic diameters by 2D TTE were 26.1 ± 4.3 mm (annulus), 32.4 ± 5.6 mm (sinuses), 30.1 ± 5.9 mm (sinotubular [ST] junction), and 33.4 ± 7.3 mm (ascending aorta). The maximum aortic diameters by MDCT were 30.1 ± 4.1 mm (annulus), 35.8 ± 5.8 mm (sinuses), 33.2 ± 5.9 mm (ST junction), and 37.4 ± 7.6 mm (ascending aorta). There was good to excellent correlation between 2D TTE and MDCT at all four levels of the aorta (annulus: r = 0.84; sinuses: r = 0.93; ST junction: r = 0.93; ascending aorta: r = 0.88). There was a consistent underestimation of aortic measurements obtained by 2D TTE when compared to MDCT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  2DTTE is a feasible, accurate, and reproducible method for the noninvasive assessment of thoracic aortic diameters as compared to MDCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology             Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences             Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Boniface General Hospital, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lytwyn
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farag
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeglinski
authors.forename: Kerrett
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: daSilva
authors.forename: Sheena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bohonis
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strzelczyk
authors.forename: Davinder S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jassal
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*