title: MRI-based determination of reference values of thoracic aortic wall thickness in a general population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide age- and sex-specific reference values for MRI-derived wall thickness of the ascending and descending aorta in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 753 subjects (311 females) aged 21-81 years were analysed. MRI was used to determine the aortic wall thickness (AWT). Equations for reference value calculation according to age were established for females and males.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median wall thickness of the ascending aorta was 1.46 mm (5th-95th range: 1.15-1.88 mm) for females and 1.56 mm (1.22-1.99 mm) for males. Median wall thickness of the descending aorta was 1.26 mm (0.97-1.58 mm) in females and 1.36 mm (1.04-1.75 mm) in males. While median and 5th and 95th percentiles for the ascending and descending aorta increased with age in both sexes, the association between age and median AWT was stronger in males than in females for both the ascending and descending aorta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reference values for the ascending and descending AWT are provided. In a healthy sample from the general population, the wall of the ascending aorta is thicker than the wall of the descending aorta, and both walls are thicker in males than females. The increase in wall thickness with age is greater in males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ascending aortic wall thickness is greater than descending aortic wall thickness. Ascending and descending aortic wall thickness is greater in males. Thoracic aortic wall thickness increases with age in both sexes. The age-related increase in aortic wall thickness is stronger in males.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475, Greifswald, Germany, birger.mensel@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: Birger
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mensel
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quadrat
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Jens-Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dörr
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Völzke
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lieb
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hegenscheid
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorbeer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult