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The prevalence and distribution of the atherosclerotic plaques in the abdominal aorta and its branches
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Abstract
Background: The aim of our study was to determine the existence, distribution, type and burden of the atherosclerotic plaques which are found in the abdominal aorta, its branches and the branching points.
Materials and methods: Two hundred and sixty-one patients (117 female, 144 male; mean age 53.34 ± 16.02, range 12–84) who underwent dual-source computed tomography angiography (CTA) were retrospectively analysed. The prevalence and distribution of the plaques in the proximal, middle and distal parts of abdominal aorta and its branches; coeliac trunk, superior and inferior mesenteric arteries, renal arteries, splenic artery and common, external and internal iliac arteries and in the aortic orifices, the type and severity of these plaques and their relations with age and gender were studied.
Results: In our study, 69.3% of the patients had atherosclerotic plaques, mostly at the distal part of abdominal aorta. The existence of the plaques increased with age. The types of these plaques were mixed (43%), calcified (24%) and soft (3%). Mixed and calcified plaques were more common in the abdominal aorta and its branches, respectively. All of the arteries except for inferior mesenteric artery mostly had mild plaques. The plaques at the branching points, which were most frequently localised in the aortic bifurcation, were found in the 41.8% of the patients. The plaques in the branches were usually accompanied by atherosclerosis of abdominal aorta.
Conclusions: Dual-source CTA enables mapping of atherosclerotic burden in abdominal arteries. Knowing the localisation, type and severity of the atherosclerotic plaques can be important to predict the clinical results and choose the proper treatment.
Abstract
Background: The aim of our study was to determine the existence, distribution, type and burden of the atherosclerotic plaques which are found in the abdominal aorta, its branches and the branching points.
Materials and methods: Two hundred and sixty-one patients (117 female, 144 male; mean age 53.34 ± 16.02, range 12–84) who underwent dual-source computed tomography angiography (CTA) were retrospectively analysed. The prevalence and distribution of the plaques in the proximal, middle and distal parts of abdominal aorta and its branches; coeliac trunk, superior and inferior mesenteric arteries, renal arteries, splenic artery and common, external and internal iliac arteries and in the aortic orifices, the type and severity of these plaques and their relations with age and gender were studied.
Results: In our study, 69.3% of the patients had atherosclerotic plaques, mostly at the distal part of abdominal aorta. The existence of the plaques increased with age. The types of these plaques were mixed (43%), calcified (24%) and soft (3%). Mixed and calcified plaques were more common in the abdominal aorta and its branches, respectively. All of the arteries except for inferior mesenteric artery mostly had mild plaques. The plaques at the branching points, which were most frequently localised in the aortic bifurcation, were found in the 41.8% of the patients. The plaques in the branches were usually accompanied by atherosclerosis of abdominal aorta.
Conclusions: Dual-source CTA enables mapping of atherosclerotic burden in abdominal arteries. Knowing the localisation, type and severity of the atherosclerotic plaques can be important to predict the clinical results and choose the proper treatment.
Keywords
abdominal aorta, atherosclerosis, atherosclerotic plaques, dual-source computed tomography angiography, vascular anatomy
About this articleTitle
The prevalence and distribution of the atherosclerotic plaques in the abdominal aorta and its branches
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
364-375
Published online
2016-01-29
Page views
1691
Article views/downloads
2672
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2016;75(3):364-375.
Keywords
abdominal aorta
atherosclerosis
atherosclerotic plaques
dual-source computed tomography angiography
vascular anatomy
Authors
C. Günenç Beşer
M. Karcaaltıncaba
H. H. Çelik
R. Başar
