Comparison of Computed Tomography and Aortography in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Abstract

In a prospectively designed study of 13 consecutive patients with proven abdominal aortic aneurysm, the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) was compared with aortography. Computed tomography was found to be a highly informative diagnostic test providing clear delineation of lesions and extent of aneurysm and its relationship to renal and iliac arteries. Furthermore 1 case of retroperitoneal fibrosis and 1 case of hydronephrosis were demonstrated by CT. The diagnosis of aneurysm by aortography was uncertain in 6 cases and in another 3 cases the relation of the aneurysm to the renal arteries was uncertain. Thus CT was found superior to aortography in examining patients for abdominal aortic aneurysm.