Regions of high wall stress can predict the future location of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2014 Jun;37(3):815-8. doi: 10.1007/s00270-014-0864-7. Epub 2014 Feb 20.

Abstract

Predicting the wall stress in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) using computational modeling may be a useful adjunct to traditional clinical parameters that indicate the risk of rupture. Maximum diameter has been shown to have many limitations, and using current technology it is possible to provide a patient-specific computational risk assessment using routinely acquired medical images. We present a case of AAA rupture where the exact rupture point was clearly visible on the computed tomography (CT) images. A blind computational study based on CT scans acquired 4 months earlier predicted elevated wall stresses in the same region that later experienced rupture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / physiopathology*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / surgery
  • Aortic Rupture / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aortic Rupture / physiopathology*
  • Aortic Rupture / surgery
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Contrast Media
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Male
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Contrast Media