THE ROLE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF VISCERAL ARTERY ANEURYSM

• Published in: Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 50; p. S11
• Main Authors: Mikos, Eryk, Światłowski, Łukasz, Sobstyl, Jan, Kuczyńska, Maryla, Drelich-Zbroja, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 2024
• ISSN: 0301-5629; 1879-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2024.01.028

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) are a rare, often asymptomatic entity, but can present as life-threatening ruptures that require emergency treatment. The aim of this study was to present the role of ultrasonography in VAA diagnosis. During 11 years (2010-2021) ultrasound evaluation of visceral vessels was performed in a group of 8150 patients (4550 men and 3600 women), aged 16-85. All patients underwent fasting examination on GE LOGIQ9, GE LOGIQ7 or ALOKA ProSound systems. For each case, a morphological assessment in the B-mode presentation with an additional hemodynamic evaluation with color and pulse Doppler were made. Power Doppler and B-Flow were used in specific cases. 3D reconstructions were not used routinely. Ultrasound examination is non-inferior to CT in terms of diagnostic effectiveness in diagnosis of non-ruptured VAAs of a diameter of >2 cm. Appropriate presentations, including B-Flow and Doppler techniques (color, pulse, power) allow for an accurate assessment of both the vessel morphology and hemodynamic parameters of the blood flow. However, sonographic methods are not efficient in cases of the vessel wall rupture, when the evaluation of vascular morphology is hindered by the presence of free abdominal blood and the patient's severe condition makes the cooperation between patient and diagnostician difficult. Results: Of the 8150 patients examined, aneurysms were diagnosed in 47 (26 men and 21 women). No case of multiple aneurysms has been detected. In 31 cases (66%) the diameter of the aneurysm exceeded >2 cm. Each of the 18 symptomatic patients who presented as emergency admission underwent a CT scan. All of the ultrasound examinations performed afterwards turned out to be non-diagnostic. Diagnoses of 2 cm aneurysms were verified by CT examination. 18 of these aneurysms were successfully embolized. Patients with <2 cm aneurysms were referred for a follow-up Doppler ultrasound at 6 months.