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This Article Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Berk, F. Articles by Civelek, A C. PubMed Articles by Berk, F. Articles by Civelek, A C.

Prevalence of previously unrecognized abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients with cancer: Detected on PET/CT

¹ Radiology, University of Louisville Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky; ² St. Louis U, Saint Louis, Missouri; ³ Kocaeli U, Kocaeli, Turkey

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Objectives: Most abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are asymptomatic, silent and discovered during radiologic testing for other reasons. The prevalence of AAAs in ultrasound screening studies in men is about 4%; might be higher in cancer patients. 1 in 250 people over the age 50 will die of a ruptured AAA (13th leading cause of death in the U.S). To reduce the mortality, repair is indicated for aneurysms >5.5 cm in diameter or ones that grow rapidly. AAAs < 5cm are monitored until they become large and warrant repair, or symptoms develop. Recommended imaging surveillance for AAAs is every 12 months if 3-4 cm and every 6 months if 4-5 cm. The goal: To determine the prevalence of previously unrecognized AAAs on routine PET/CTs in cancer patients, and if these scans can be used as a surrogate test for AAA surveillance.

Methods: 117 consecutive pts with known cancer who underwent PET/CT scans were included. The CT portion was non-enhanced. No patient had a previously known AAA. An aneurysm was considered present when the outer aortic diameter was 3.1 cm. Clinically appropriate repeat PET/CT intervals were determined, compared with recommended AAA surveillance times.

Results: 10/117 pts (9%) with solid tumors (6 Lung, 1 brain, 2 H&N, 1 rectal cancer) had AAA of 3.1 cm. Nine were male; with mean age 70 (range: 56-88 yrs). Six of 10 AAAs were 3.1- 4.4 cm; 4 were 4.5-5.4 cm (mean: 4.8 cm). All had repeat scans within the recommended surveillance intervals.

Conclusions: In patients with solid cancers, the prevalence of previously unrecognized concomitant AAA is 2 times greater than in the older general population. The CT portion of the routine PET/CT scans can diagnose these AAAs and might serve as a surrogate test to monitor patients with AAAs < 5 cm.

This Article Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Berk, F. Articles by Civelek, A C. PubMed Articles by Berk, F. Articles by Civelek, A C.