Interdependencies of Aortic Arch Secondary Flow Patterns, Geometry, and Age Analysed by 4-dimensional Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 3 Tesla

Overview

Journal Eur Radiol

Specialty Radiology

Date 2011 Dec 31

PMID 22207269

Citations 37

Authors

Alex Frydrychowicz

Alexander Berger

Alejandro Munoz Del Rio

Maximilian F Russe

Jelena Bock

Andreas Harloff

Michael Markl

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: It was the aim to analyse the impact of age, aortic arch geometry, and size on secondary flow patterns such as helix and vortex flow derived from flow-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (4D PC-MRI).

Methods: 62 subjects (age range = 20-80 years) without circumscribed pathologies of the thoracic aorta (ascending aortic (AAo) diameter: 3.2 ± 0.6 cm [range 2.2-5.1]) were examined by 4D PC-MRI after IRB-approval and written informed consent. Blood flow visualisation based on streamlines and time-resolved 3D particle traces was performed. Aortic diameter, shape (gothic, crook-shaped, cubic), angle, and age were correlated with existence and extent of secondary flow patterns (helicity, vortices); statistical modelling was performed.

Results: Helical flow was the typical pattern in standard crook-shaped aortic arches. With altered shapes and increasing age, helicity was less common. AAo diameter and age had the highest correlation (r = 0.69 and 0.68, respectively) with number of detected vortices. None of the other arch geometric or demographic variables (for all, P ≥ 0.177) improved statistical modelling.

Conclusion: Substantially different secondary flow patterns can be observed in the normal thoracic aorta. Age and the AAo diameter were the parameters correlating best with presence and amount of vortices. Findings underline the importance of age- and geometry-matched control groups for haemodynamic studies.

Key Points: • Secondary blood flow patterns (helices, vortices) are commonly observed in the aorta • Secondary flow patterns predominantly depend on patient age and aortic diameter • Geometric factors show a lesser impact on blood flow patterns than age and diameter • Future analyses of flow patterns should incorporate age- and diameter dependencies.

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