1. < Aortic Aneurysms
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Had large brain aneurysms, now root dilated and ascending aotra

Posted by hakablue @hakablue, Nov 22 7:41am

25 years ago I had multiple brain aneurysms that required surgery. One was an emergency, 15mm and the others were 8 mm. I had three craniotomy’s in three months. Another coiling procedure in 2018 for a forming super aneurysm. I’ve just had an echo that shows a root dilated and ascending aorta measuring 3.6mm. I had a stroke in April and CT scan showed a history of chronic strokes. This is why they did the echo. I had one in 2022 that measured 2.4mm. I have been symptomatic for years, chest pain, daily back aches, and inability to breath at times. I have an inhaler because I flunked the breathing test. Have controlled high blood pressure, CKD and Thrombphilia. My question is should I be concerned about this result or wait see?

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mimiz | @mimiz | Nov 23 12:47pm

"The ascending aorta is typically about 5 to 8 centimeters (or close to 2 to 3 inches) long and about 3 to 4 centimeters wide. Its diameter can be considered dilated if it exceeds 3.5 centimeters, and an aneurysm is generally defined as a diameter greater than 4.5 centimeters. - Source: Cleveland Clinic

You mention your ascending aorta is measuring "3.6mm" do you mean centimeters? A centimeter (cm) is larger than a millimeter (mm); specifically, 1 cm equals 10 mm.

My husband's ascending aorta measured 4.6 cm when his primary care physician referred him to a cardiologist. The cardiologist wasn't too concerned given my husband's excellent health and no family history or prior history of aneurysms anywhere in his body therefore he recommended monitoring and a rescan in 1 year to determine growth (if any).

With your prior history of aneurysms and stoke you are likely in a high risk group and should seek advice and regular monitoring from a cardiologist who specializes in aortic disease. My uneducated guess would be that a '3.6 cm' ascending aorta is closer to the normal size and not in the danger range however determining rate of growth via periodic CT scans would seem especially important for you given your history ... a cardiologist should guide/advise you on this.

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hakablue | @hakablue | Nov 23 4:55pm

You are right, test results are in cm. Mildly dialated aorta root and proximal ascending aorta both measuring 3.6cm. My general practitioner ordered test after the stchemic stroke in April. I no longer have a cardiologist but had one previously when a stress test came back bad and nothing was found. Thank you for your information and I wish you and your husband a positive outcome. I blessed with my brain aneurysms none ruptured

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dew88 | @dew88 | 5 days ago
In reply to @mimiz ""The ascending aorta is typically about 5 to 8 centimeters (or close to 2 to 3..." + (show)
Profile picture for mimiz @mimiz

"The ascending aorta is typically about 5 to 8 centimeters (or close to 2 to 3 inches) long and about 3 to 4 centimeters wide. Its diameter can be considered dilated if it exceeds 3.5 centimeters, and an aneurysm is generally defined as a diameter greater than 4.5 centimeters. - Source: Cleveland Clinic

You mention your ascending aorta is measuring "3.6mm" do you mean centimeters? A centimeter (cm) is larger than a millimeter (mm); specifically, 1 cm equals 10 mm.

My husband's ascending aorta measured 4.6 cm when his primary care physician referred him to a cardiologist. The cardiologist wasn't too concerned given my husband's excellent health and no family history or prior history of aneurysms anywhere in his body therefore he recommended monitoring and a rescan in 1 year to determine growth (if any).

With your prior history of aneurysms and stoke you are likely in a high risk group and should seek advice and regular monitoring from a cardiologist who specializes in aortic disease. My uneducated guess would be that a '3.6 cm' ascending aorta is closer to the normal size and not in the danger range however determining rate of growth via periodic CT scans would seem especially important for you given your history ... a cardiologist should guide/advise you on this.

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@mimiz Thanks for that info. Have been reading most to the offerings for the past year and have not seen what you posted concerning the definition of + 3.5 cm being dilated and +4.5 being an aneurysm. That makes understanding and conversation with a cardiologist much easier.

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