Computed Tomography Attenuation Values of the High-Attenuating Crescent Sign Can Discriminate Between Rupture, Impending Rupture, and Non-Rupture of Aortic Aneurysms

Infectious abdominal aortic aneurysms often present with abdominal and lower back pain, but prolonged fever may be the only symptom. Infectious abdominal aortic aneurysms initially presenting with meningitis are extremely rare; there are no reports of their successful treatment. Cases withStreptococcus pneumoniaeas the causative bacteria are even rarer with a higher mortality rate than those caused by other bacteria. We present the case of a 65-year-old man with lower limb weakness and back pain. Examination revealed fever and neck stiffness. Cerebrospinal fluid showed leukocytosis and low glucose levels. The patient was diagnosed with meningitis and bacteremia caused byStreptococcus pneumoniaeand treated with antibiotics. Fever, inflammatory response, and neurologic findings showed improvement. However, abdominal computed tomography revealed an aneurysm not present on admission. Antibiotics were continued, and a rifampicin soaked artificial vascular graft was implanted. Tissue cultures showed no bacteria, and histological findings indicated inflammation with high leukocyte levels. There were no postoperative complications or neurologic abnormalities. Physical examination, blood tests, and computed tomography confirmed there was no relapse over the following 13 months. This is the first reported case of survival of a patient with an infectious abdominal aortic aneurysm initially presenting with meningitis caused byStreptococcus pneumoniae.

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Computed tomography diagnosis of thoracic aortic aneurysms

Seminars in Roentgenology ◽

10.1053/sroe.2001.28572 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 309-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Binh T. Nguyen

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Computed Tomography Diagnosis

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Measurement of aortic diameters and detection of asymptomatic aortic aneurysms in a mass screening program using a mobile helical computed tomography unit

Heart and Vessels ◽

10.1007/s380-002-8315-1 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 42-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Y. Itani ◽

Shigeru Watanabe ◽

Yoshiaki Masuda ◽

Kazuhisa Hanamura ◽

Kazuhiro Asakura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Mass Screening ◽

Screening Program ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Helical Computed Tomography

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The Application Of Computed Tomography In The Diagnosis And Management Of Dissecting Aortic Aneurysms

10.1055/s-0038-1652766 ◽

1981 ◽

Author(s):

Rogelio Moncada ◽

Matias Salinas ◽

Harry L Messmore ◽

Jawed Fareed ◽

Zaheer Parvez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Aortic Dissection ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Type I ◽

Vascular Disorder ◽

Initial Examination ◽

Lethal Outcome ◽

Preliminary Screening ◽

Aortic Dissections ◽

Spontaneous Dissection

Dissecting aortic aneurysm (DAA) is a well recognized clinical entity with a dramatic pathologic presentation and potentially lethal outcome. The diagnosis is generally suspected by a spectrum of classical symptoms and physical signs. Confirmation of this vascular disorder is usually accomplished through aortography. We have utilized computed tomography of the torso combined with simultaneous intravenous bolus injection of radiologic contrast media in sixteen patients suspected of having dissected aorta. All patients had subsequent correlative percutaneous aortography within twenty-four hours of the initial examination. Of the sixteen patients examined, four proved to be normal, one had an aneurysm of the thoracic aorta and eleven had aortic dissection; five Type I and six had Type III dissection. All eleven patients with aortic dissections were diagnosed by computed tomography and angiography; nine had spontaneous dissection and two had iatrogenic injuries to the aorta. Early experience with computed tomography-enhancement technique has reliably demonstrated normal as well as pathologic aortic wall morphology. We recommend that a CT enhancement study be the preliminary screening in all suspected cases or aortic dissection. Furthermore, this technique can be used for evaluation after medical or surgical treatment or in patients suspected of having rapid aortic expansion or rupture of the paracardium or the pleura.

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Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Predicts and Detects Complications After Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Journal of Endovascular Therapy ◽

10.1177/1526602819849088 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 520-528 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Audrey Courtois ◽

Georgios Makrygiannis ◽

Mounia El Hachemi ◽

Rebecka Hultgren ◽

Eric Allaire ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Positron Emission Tomography ◽

Endovascular Aneurysm Repair ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Emission Tomography ◽

Fdg Uptake ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Pet Ct ◽

D Dimer

Purpose: To assess if aortic 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) could play a role in predicting complications after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Materials and Methods: This study involved 2 cohorts of men with abdominal aortic aneurysm treated by EVAR: those who underwent a PET/CT scan before EVAR (n=17) and those who had a PET/CT during follow-up (n=34). Uptake of FDG was measured as the standardized uptake value (SUV). D-dimer, a marker of fibrinolysis, was measured in blood drawn concomitantly with the PET/CT. Results: A significant uptake of FDG in the aneurysm wall was detected by PET/CT before EVAR in 6 of 17 patients. During the first year after EVAR, type II endoleaks developed in 5 of these FDG+ patients vs 3 of 11 FDG– patients (p=0.04). Two of the FDG+ patients had continued sac growth and required conversion to open repair. A significant association between sac growth rate, SUV, and the presence of endoleak was found in the 34 patients who underwent PET/CT after EVAR. Finally, D-dimer was significantly increased in patients with both endoleak and positive PET/CT in the post-EVAR group. Conclusion: This study suggests that the presence of FDG uptake in the aortic wall might be a useful tool to predict patients at high risk of developing post-EVAR complications.

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Ectopic thyroids have lower computed tomography attenuation values than orthotopic thyroids

Endocrine ◽

10.1007/s12020-018-1747-5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 546-551

Author(s):

Ting Gu ◽

Ying-li Lu ◽

Bing Han ◽

Bo-Ren Jiang ◽

Li-Zhen Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Attenuation Values

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Improvements in Rupture Prediction of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Using Local Mechanical Property Estimation Obtained From ECG-Gated Computed Tomography

ASME 2010 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/sbc2010-19431 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Áine Tierney ◽

Anthony Callanan ◽

Tim M. McGloughlin

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Common Type ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

The Past ◽

Property Estimation ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

The Us ◽

Local Mechanical Property

Cardiovascular disease concerns any disease which affects the heart or blood vessels. Aneurysms account for a significant portion of these cardiovascular diseases. The most common type of aneurysm is abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) which affects up to 5% of the population over the age of 55. AAA is a focal balloon like dilation of the terminal aorta that occurs gradually over a span of years [1]. There are approximately 200,000 patients in the US and 500,000 patients worldwide diagnosed with AAA each year [2]. The incidences of AAA’s has increased largely during the past two decades due in part to the aging demographic, the rise in the number of smokers, the introduction of screening programmes and improved diagnostic tools [3].

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