Abdominal aortic aneurysm morphology in candidates for endovascular repair evaluated with spiral computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography.

PURPOSE To analyze the morphology of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and to study the usefulness of spiral computed tomography (CT) versus digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the evaluation of patients for endovascular repair. METHODS Of 133 AAA patients (120 men, mean age 67 years, range 52 to 84) evaluated preoperatively with CT imaging, 77 endograft candidates (68 men) were also assessed with intra-arterial DSA. Arterial parameters were measured on axial CT scans and angiographic films for comparison. RESULTS Mean maximum AAA diameter was 58 +/- 11 mm (range 39 to 95). Aneurysmal neck diameter was consistently smaller on DSA than on CT (20.7 +/- 3.6 mm versus 23.0 +/ 3.5 mm, p < 0.0001). The distance from the most distal renal artery to the aortic bifurcation was longer on angiography than on CT (mean difference 10.0 mm, p < 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between the maximum AAA diameter and the AAA length (r = 0.49, p < 0.0001) and an inverse relationship between the neck length and the neck diameter (r = -0.36, p < 0.0001). No correlation was found between the maximum AAA diameter and maximum iliac diameter, angulation, or length. CONCLUSIONS AAA anatomy varies widely and independently of the aneurysm size. Therefore, the maximum size of the aneurysm is a poor predictor of whether or not an aneurysm is suitable for endovascular repair. The discrepancy between angiographic and axial CT measurements suggests that neither alone is sufficient as a preoperative imaging technique when evaluating a patient for an endovascular graft procedure.