title: Evaluation the Aortic Aneurysm Remodeling After a Successful Stentgraft Implantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Routine imaging follow-up after endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR) is mainly aimed at detection of endoleaks. The aim of the study was to assess changes in the size of the abdominal aortic aneurysm sack using CT angiography (CTA) after successful treatment using endovascular stent graft implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of CTA results included 102 patients aged 54-88, who had no postoperative complications. Patients underwent CTA before EVAR and after the treatment (mean time between studies, 7.6 months). The largest cross-sectional area of the aneurysm sac was measured using a curved multiplanar reconstruction. A change of the aneurysm cross-sectional over 10% was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average cross-sectional area decreased after EVAR by 3% and this change was not statistically significant. Regression of the cross-sectional area was observed in 18.6% of patients, progression was in 23.5%, and no change was seen in 57.8%. Cross-sectional areas before and after EVAR were significantly correlated (r=0.75, p<0.0001). There was no correlation between the cross-sectional area change after EVAR and patients' age or the time between the treatment and the follow-up CTA. Cross-sectional area before the treatment predicted changes in the aneurysm size after EVAR (p=0.0045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remodeling of abdominal aortic aneurysms after EVAR is not uniform. The change of aneurysm size depends on the initial aneurysm size but not on the time from EVAR. The size of the aneurysm after EVAR should not be considered as a measure of the treatment efficacy.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Nowicka
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Kowalczyk
authors: Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Grażyna
authors: G
authors: Rusak
authors: Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Przemysław
authors: P
authors: Ratajczak
authors: Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Bartosz
authors: B
authors: Sobociński
keywords: Angiography; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Endovascular Procedures; Multidetector Computed Tomography