Why it matters

A more individualized view of aortic disease

Thoracic aortic disease affects approximately 1 in 50 individuals who are at risk and can lead to life-threatening complications such as aortic aneurysm and dissection. CT and MRI are central to assessing the thoracic aorta. They help clinicians evaluate aortic size, shape, and change over time. As described in the current American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) guidelines, treatment decisions based primarily on aortic size and growth rate have many limitations—many patients experience aortic rupture or dissection before reaching these thresholds.

Aortic disease assessment

Anatomic imaging

Aortic anatomy

Size
Shape
Change over time

Aortic hemodynamics

Blood-flow information

Velocity
Flow patterns
Hemodynamic measures

A more individualized view of aortic diseaseImage adapted from Servier Medical Art, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

A broader clinical picture

The clinical picture is broader than diameter alone

Research has shown that blood flow patterns within the aorta provide additional information about aortic disease, but current methods require specialized MRI techniques that are not widely available. Our team is developing an artificial intelligence tool designed to estimate these important blood flow measurements from routine CT or MRI scans, with the goal of enabling more accurate, personalized hemodynamic assessment using imaging that is already part of standard clinical care.

Review the ACC/AHA aortic-disease guideline summary