student research day - Case Western Reserve University School of ...

Wei (Cindy) Mi
CT Evaluation of Aortic Dimension, Calcification, and Pericardial Thickness in a Geriatric Population with History of
Smoking
Cindy Mi, Balasubramanian V, Kim G, Goldin J., Jonathan Goldin MD, PhD.
Department of Radiological Sciences
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Objective: To use a high risk cohort of geriatric subjects with history of heavy smoking to describe the
physiologic ranges of aortic dimensions, aortic valve calcification, and pericardial thickening in elderly
smokers.
Methods: Sixty-four participants of the National Lung Screening Trial cohort at UCLA were randomly
selected for this study (mean age 69.0 ± 2.8 years, 57.8% male). All participants had minimum 30 pack-year
smoking history and received one chest CT per year for the three years they were followed. Aortic
dimensions were measured at the ascending aorta (AAD), descending aorta (DAD), and aortic arch
(AARD). Additionally, the ratio of main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAD) to ascending aortic diameter
(AAD1), aortic valve calcification (AVC), and pericardial thickness (PT) were evaluated. Means and
standard deviations were calculated based on gender and age group (65-67, 68-70, 71-74 years) at baseline
and year 2. Correlation analysis was done between pack years and all cardiac measurements.
Results: We found no significant differences in cardiac measurements among age groups though there was a
significant gender difference. The mean AAD at baseline was 35.72 ± 3.86 and 38.86 ±3.50 mm in females
and males, respectively (P = 0.0012). Likewise, DAD, MPAD, AAD1, and AARD showed significant gender
differences. Pack years was not a predictor of outcome except for MPAD/AAD1 (P = 0.032). None of the
cardiac measurements were found to have significant changes from baseline to year 2 though Pearson’s
correlation showed a significant correlation between the two measurements.
Conclusions: While it is common clinical practice to assume an increase in vessel size and calcification with
increase in age, our study indicates that this assumption is unreliable, even when evaluating high risk elderly with
heavy smoking history. Comparison of this cohort with the general adult and geriatric populations show no
observed differences in aortic dimensions and calcification.
Supported MSTAR Program
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