ct scan results for ascending aortic aneurysm

[dgar]

I am a 34 year old otherwise healthy nonsmoking, nondrinking female without high blood pressure or any other symptoms.  I have migraines with abnormal mri's that have led to further investigation to make sure I do not have any clotting problems.  My nuero started with my heart and had an echo done.  My echo showed a dilated right ventricle and dilated ascending aorta.  It also revealed trace and mild regurgitation in the tricuspid and pulmonary valves.  This led to a TEE being done to look for a possible PFO as a reason for clots being sent to my brain. The TEE revealed a small jet of diastolic flow in right ventricular outflow tract, could not rule out coronary fistula. But everything else looked normal. Cardiologist sent me for a CT Scan w/out contrast because he was not able to get a good look at ascending aorta. CT Scan says no definitive aortic aneursym but limited due to no contrast. Measures 3cm at greatest diameter.Small bulla at left lung base. Calcified hepatic granuloma.  Nobody has told me what, if anything, all of this means. Can you help me out?

[dgar]

Thank you so much for you information, Dr.  I am just wondering if a fistula is something I need to even be worried about as the cardiologist seemed concerned while doing the TEE that he wasn't able to tell if that is what they were seeing with the jet in the right ventricle.  What is a coronary fistula and does it have any effect on your health?  Could it have anything to do with blood clots?  My problem is that the Cardiologist sends the stuff to the Neurologist and the Neurologist doesn't understand the cardiac stuff and the underlying diagnosis is the abnormal mri's with migraines and its symptoms so I have nobody correlating all of my results.  Thank you for your time and information.  I really appreciate it.

[dgar]

Thank you so much for you information, Dr.  I am just wondering if a fistula is something I need to even be worried about as the cardiologist seemed concerned while doing the TEE that he wasn't able to tell if that is what they were seeing with the jet in the right ventricle.  What is a coronary fistula and does it have any effect on your health?  Could it have anything to do with blood clots?  My problem is that the Cardiologist sends the stuff to the Neurologist and the Neurologist doesn't understand the cardiac stuff and the underlying diagnosis is the abnormal mri's with migraines and its symptoms so I have nobody correlating all of my results.  Thank you for your time and information.  I really appreciate it.

[LacyMary]

Hi there. last year they did an abdominal CT scan on hubby to ckeck his kidneys.  No kidney problens seen but radiolgist picked up the 3cm abdominal aortic aneuysm which they say was dilated and needed to be watched as they do not do anything about these unless they start to grow rapidly or when they get to be 5?6cm. I am wondering if his abdominal aortic aneuysm is the same as calling it a thoracic aortic aneuysm since yours was seen with a CT scan.  I hope the CC doc will address this and also addess the 3cm size as again we were told with hubby's abdominal aortic aneurysm for us not to be concerend and to have repeat scans every year.  This came from 2 top notch thoracic doctors here who both do surgery for these things.

Wishing you all the best.

[dgar]

Thanks for your comment.  My CT scan was of my chest.  My Dr. ordered the chest CT to check for the aneurysm.  I'm curious, your husband was told that his was dilated/aneurysm at 3cm?  My Dr. has never personally spoken to me after my test so I am totally at a loss as to what all of this means.  Thanks again for sharing your info.

[LacyMary]

Hi there.  I am curious.  Was your CT scan of the heart or of the chest.?  I know both are in the same area but I was told they are two different scans.

My CT scan of the chest also showed 4 small bullaes but these never showed up on an MRI of my heart.

CT scan of my hubby's abdomen picked up a 3cm aortic aneuysm (which they are watching) but thi never showed up on his Spiral CT scan of the chest.

Good Luck to you.

[Cleveland Clinic]

dgar,

You have a lot of findings that are difficult to comment on without being able to see the actual pictures. The aortic dimensions you mentioned are in the normal range, so if the only place they commented on the aorta was the echo, then I wouldnt pay too much attention to it as the aorta isnt best visulized with that modality.

The right ventricular findings depend on the severity of the ventricular dysfunction.  Without seeing the pictures, I cant tell you too much more. It sounds like your physicians were in the right path with the TEE, as in a young person a PFO or ASD is a common cause of the findings.  An cardiac MRI might help your physicians locate a fistula if it wasnt seen by the TEE.  

Im noit sure if you are recieveing care at a large referral center, but if there are questions and you are not that would be my next step.

good luck