Echo

When on an echo report is written "Aorta is normal" does  it mean whole aorta from aortic root to abdominal aorta is normal?Is ascending and descending aorta also included?If aorta is normal does it mean that ascending and descending aorta are also normal?By the way, where and how is aorta measured by echo?Thank you.Geo

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

An echo done from the chest wall can visualize well only the segment of aorta immediately adjacent to the heart's aortic valve. It does not image the descending aorta well or the abdominal aorta at all. A transesophageal echo can visualize much more of the aorta.

[Geo]

If aortic root can be seen well on an echo,but not ascending and descending aorta, how would a doctor and patient know for sure if ascending and descending aorta are normal?Would an plain MRI (without injection & contast) be better test to find out the size of ascending and descending aorta?Thank you.Geo

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

It really depends what the doctor is looking for. If the goal for some reason was to evaluate the entire aorta, MRI would be a better test.

[Geo]

Is dye always used when evaluting ascending and descending aorta with an mri or is it optional?Thank you.Geo

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

Intravenous contrast enhancement is typically used, but this is not the same sort of 'dye' used during an angiogram. The MRI dye is extremely safe.