The aims of this study are (1) to compare CT, MRI, and angiography in a prospective sample of patients (n =
appr.170) with abdominal aortic aneurysm regarding their relative ability to accurately define aneurysmal and
occlusive disease of the aorta and its branches. (2) to determine the effect of imaging studies on intermediate
perioperative outcomes.
All patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms presenting to the vascular treatment clinic at Stanford University will
be entered into the study. After clinical evaluation, patients undergo Spiral-CT Angiography, Magnetic Resonance
Angiography and conventional Angiography. Patients will subsequently be referred to either (1) direct surgical
repair, (2) transluminal endovascular stent-graft placement, or (3) treatment will be deferred.
Imaging studies will be analyzed as to their relative accuracy to depict pathological features of abdominal aortic
aneurysms with surgical results as the standard of reference. Surgical plans based on clinical (and sonographic)
information alone will be compared with surgical plans based on additional CT, MRI or angiographic imaging
information, with the surgical procedure as the gold standard. This will allow us to evaluate the relative ability of
the three imaging modalities to contribute to accurate preoperative surgical and anesthetic plans. The successful
completion of this work will enable more efficient use of imaging technology in the pre-operative assessment of
abdominal aortic aneurysms, and may lead to a reduction in perioperative surgical and anesthetic morbidity and
medical costs.