Assessment of Asymmetric Aortic Distention Using Balanced Transient Field Echo MR Imaging

Joffrey van Prehn^1,2, Koen L. Vincken¹, Joost A. van Herwaarden², Sara M. Sprinkhuizen¹, Max A. Viergever¹, Frans L. Moll², Lambertus W. Bartels¹

We have implemented a scan sequence and ellipse fit post-processing technique that allow us to study the distension and the asymmetric aspect of the aortic expansion during the cardiac cycle. Healthy volunteers were scanned and the accuracy of the method was assed by a digital model of a pulsatile aorta with various levels of distension and asymmetric expansion. The current study demonstrates the feasibility of our method and shows that we can accurately detect and quantify asymmetry in the aortic distension. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the aortic expansion in the abdominal aorta of healthy volunteers is asymmetrical.