Exploring the thoracic aorta with advanced magnetic resonance imaging beyond routine diameter measurements

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging has emerged as a noninvasive modality for multiparametric assessment of aortic anatomy, dynamics, and flow. Preventive aortic surgery remains based on maximal aortic diameters, but this strategy has shown its limits to accurately predict acute aortic events. Novel imaging biomarkers such as aortic volumetry, aortic stiffness (distensibility and pulse wave velocity), and flow with new 4D techniques providing wall shear stress or relative pressure maps are promising to enhance our understanding of aortic pathophysiology in vivo and ability to predict adverse aortic outcome.