High Resolution Strain Analysis Comparing Aorta and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Real Time Three Dimensional Speckle Tracking Ultrasound

Objective/Background Ultrasound measurement of aortic diameter for aneurysm screening allows supervision of aneurysm growth. Additional biomechanical analysis of wall motion and aneurysm deformation can supply information about individual elastic properties and the pathological state of the aortic wall. Local aortic wall motion was analyzed through imaged aortic segments according to age and pathology. Methods Sixty-five patients were examined with a commercial four dimensional ultrasound system (4D-US). Three groups were defined: patients with normal aortic diameter and younger than 60 years of age ( n  = 21); those with normal aortic diameter and older than 60 years of age ( n  = 25); and those with infrarenal aortic aneurysm ( n  = 19). A diastolic reference shape of aortic wall segments was obtained and local and temporally resolved wall strain was determined. Indices characterizing the resulting wall strain distribution were determined. Results The analysis of biomechanical properties displayed increasing heterogeneous and dyssynchronous circumferential strain with increasing patient age. Young patients exhibited higher mean strain amplitude. The distribution of the spatial heterogeneity index and local strain ratio was inversely proportional to age. The maximum local strain amplitude was significantly higher in the young (0.26 ± 0.17) compared with the old (0.16 ± 0.07) or aneurysmal aorta (0.16 ± 0.10). Temporal dyssynchrony significantly differed between young (0.13 ± 0.10) and old (aneurysmal 0.31 ± 0.04, non-aneurysmal 0.29 ± 0.05), regardless of aortic diameter. The spatial heterogeneity index and local strain ratio differentiate non-aneurysmal and aneurysmal aorta, regardless of age. Conclusions 4D-US strain imaging enables description of individual wall motion (kinematics) of the infrarenal aorta with high spatial and temporal resolution. Functional differences between young, old, and aneurysmal aorta can be described by mean (circumferential) strain amplitude, the spatial heterogeneity index, and the local strain ratio. Further investigation is required to refine this new perspective of patient individualized characterization of the pathological AAA wall and eventually to rupture risk stratification.