The clinical assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture risk is based on the quantification of AAA size by measuring its maximum diameter from computed tomography (CT) images and estimating the expansion rate of the aneurysm sac over time. Recent findings have shown that geometrical shape and size, as well as local wall thickness may be related to this risk; thus, reliable noninvasive image-based methods to evaluate AAA geometry have a potential to become valuable clinical tools. Utilizing existing CT data, the three-dimensional geometry of nine unruptured human AAAs was reconstructed and characterized quantitatively. We propose and evaluate a series of 1D size, 2D shape, 3D size, 3D shape, and second-order curvature-based indices to quantify AAA geometry, as well as the geometry of a size-matched idealized fusiform aneurysm and a patient-specific normal abdominal aorta used as controls. The wall thickness estimation algorithm, validated in our previous work, is tested against discrete point measurements taken from a cadaver tissue model, yielding an average relative difference in AAA wall thickness of 7.8%. It is unlikely that any one of the proposed geometrical indices alone would be a reliable index of rupture risk or a threshold for elective repair. Rather, the complete geometry and a positive correlation of a set of indices should be considered to assess the potential for rupture. With this quantitative parameter assessment, future research can be directed toward statistical analyses correlating the numerical values of these parameters with the risk of aneurysm rupture or intervention (surgical or endovascular). While this work does not provide direct insight into the possible clinical use of the geometric parameters, we believe it provides the foundation necessary for future efforts in that direction.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: martufi@kth.se
e-mail: edimarti@ucalgary.ca
e-mail: cristina.amon@utoronto.ca
e-mail: smuluk@wpahs.org
e-mail: finole@cmu.edu
Article navigation
June 2009
Research Papers
Three-Dimensional Geometrical Characterization of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Image-Based Wall Thickness Distribution
Giampaolo Martufi,
e-mail: martufi@kth.se
Giampaolo Martufi
Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
, Via del Politecnico, 1 00133 Roma Italia
Search for other works by this author on:
Elena S. Di Martino,
Elena S. Di Martino
Department of Civil Engineering, and Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education,
e-mail: edimarti@ucalgary.ca
University of Calgary
, 2500 University Drive Northwest, Calgary, AL, T2N 1N4, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Cristina H. Amon,
Cristina H. Amon
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
e-mail: cristina.amon@utoronto.ca
University of Toronto
, 5 King’s College Road, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Satish C. Muluk,
Satish C. Muluk
Division of Vascular Surgery,
e-mail: smuluk@wpahs.org
Allegheny General Hospital
, 320 East North Avenue, South Tower, 14th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4772
Search for other works by this author on:
Ender A. Finol
Ender A. Finol
Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Complex Engineered Systems,
e-mail: finole@cmu.edu
Carnegie Mellon University
, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
Search for other works by this author on:
Giampaolo Martufi
Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
, Via del Politecnico, 1 00133 Roma Italiae-mail: martufi@kth.se
Elena S. Di Martino
Department of Civil Engineering, and Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education,
University of Calgary
, 2500 University Drive Northwest, Calgary, AL, T2N 1N4, Canadae-mail: edimarti@ucalgary.ca
Cristina H. Amon
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto
, 5 King’s College Road, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canadae-mail: cristina.amon@utoronto.ca
Satish C. Muluk
Division of Vascular Surgery,
Allegheny General Hospital
, 320 East North Avenue, South Tower, 14th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4772e-mail: smuluk@wpahs.org
Ender A. Finol
Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Complex Engineered Systems,
Carnegie Mellon University
, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890e-mail: finole@cmu.edu
J Biomech Eng. Jun 2009, 131(6): 061015 (11 pages)
Published Online: May 12, 2009
Article history
Received:
September 10, 2008
Revised:
December 25, 2008
Published:
May 12, 2009
Citation
Martufi, G., Di Martino, E. S., Amon, C. H., Muluk, S. C., and Finol, E. A. (May 12, 2009). "Three-Dimensional Geometrical Characterization of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Image-Based Wall Thickness Distribution." ASME. J Biomech Eng. June 2009; 131(6): 061015. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3127256
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Simulating the Growth of TATA-Box Binding Protein-Associated Factor 15 Inclusions in Neuron Soma
J Biomech Eng (December 2024)
Evaluation of an Inverse Method for Quantifying Spatially Variable Mechanics
J Biomech Eng (December 2024)
Effect of Structure and Wearing Modes on the Protective Performance of Industrial Safety Helmet
J Biomech Eng (December 2024)
Sex-Based Differences and Asymmetry in Hip Kinematics During Unilateral Extension From Deep Hip Flexion
J Biomech Eng (December 2024)
Related Articles
The Association of Wall Mechanics and Morphology: A Case Study of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Growth
J Biomech Eng (October,2011)
Automated 3D Mosaicing and Scan Trajectories for Surveillance of Bladder Cancer
J. Med. Devices (June,2011)
Automated Methodology for Determination of Stress Distribution in Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
J Biomech Eng (October,2005)
Deformable Mock Stenotic Artery With a Lipid Pool
J Biomech Eng (March,2010)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Medical Image Segmentation Based on Improved Watershed Algorithm
International Conference on Computer and Computer Intelligence (ICCCI 2011)
An Improved Stereo Matching Algorithm Based on Image Segmentation
International Conference on Instrumentation, Measurement, Circuits and Systems (ICIMCS 2011)
Thresholding for Image Segmentation Using 2D-Histogram and Spectral Clustering
International Conference on Instrumentation, Measurement, Circuits and Systems (ICIMCS 2011)