Jrg Mauch1, Michael Markl2,
Christoph Haller3, Zoran Stankovic1, Mathias Langer1,
Julia Geiger1
1Radiology, Medical Physics,
University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; 2Radiology, Medical
Physics, University Medical Center, Freiburg , Germany; 3Cardiovascular
Surgery, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
The purpose of this study was to employ flow-sensitive 4D MRI for the characterization and quantification of aorto-iliac hemodynamics in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Compared to healthy volunteers, patients showed a more heterogeneous distribution of flow and demonstrated substantial flow deceleration during passage through aneurysm and sudden flow acceleration distal to the aneurysm in the proximal iliac arteries. Quantitative analysis revealed significant changes in peak velocities, total flow, and flow distribution to the left and right iliac arteries. The magnitude and extent of such alterations may thus be an indicator of aneurysm progression or onset of thrombosis.