CT Results

[DavesMom]

Hi,

I'm a 52 year-old female with a history of two heart surgeries. The last was an AVR/aneurysm repair ten years ago.

I had my first CT scan last year and it showed a 4.5 ascending aortic aneurysm as well as aneurysms of the brachiocephalic artery (2.6 cm) and the origin of the  left common carotid artery (1.8 cm).

I recently had my second scan and the measurement of the ascending aorta is now noted as "close to 4.3 cm."  I understand that measurements can vary due to positioning, the ability of the tech, and the doctor reading the report, but a 2 cm "shrinkage"  seems like a lot to me.  Is it possible that the aneurysm actually shrunk? Could my daily walking routine have caused it to improve?  I'm just wondering which report to believe! Aneurysmal dilation in the origin of the great vessels but specific measurements are not given.

I understand that my aneurysm isn't at the critical stage but I do tend to worry since I am small and have Turner's Syndrome, which puts me at a slightly increased risk of dissection.

Thanks in advance for any information.

[Cleveland Clinic]

The difference is not 2 cm but 0.2 cm or two millimeters. This is a very small difference and well within the variables you mentioned.

[DavesMom]

Sorry, I was a bit hasty in my original post. : )

What I meant at the end of my third paragraph is that the aneurysms of the great vessels (I'm assuming this means the brachiocephalic and left common carotid arteries) are still there, but no specific measurements were given this year.

Thanks again.