Measurement Discrepancies

I know it's frightening when you are first diagnosed. I was diagnosed 2 years ago at 4.2 cm. I get an echo every 6 months and a CTA, once a year. At one Echo, the tech said that my aneurysm had shrunk. Not true! They are not as exact as a CTA. Echos can yield inaccurate results or poor image quality due to technical, procedural or interpretive mistakes.
Your CTA, 6 months ago showed 4.6 cm. Your current Echo showed 4.7. I was told that average growth is .05 - .15 cm per year. If your first Echo was measured wrong, your growth is in the normal range compared to your CTA. That increase though, is by Echo. That is probably why your cardiologist is not concerned.
I know it doesn't ease your mind. You could always ask for your CTA to be done sooner. You need to have a physician who you are comfortable with, confident in and who listens to you.
I wish you well on your journey!! Sending prayers!!🙏🙏

Hello.....stressing over this for the next 6 months isn't healthy. As you've got concerns that won't be addressed by waiting, you should insist on getting a follow-on CT now. The discrepancies can occur due to who reads the results, how the scan is done, and the experience level of who is doing the scan, particularly with an echocardiogram. Hopefully, your Cardiologist is doing his own measurement, but if not, then much of the result is dependent on the expertise of another person or persons evaluating the size. That's a lot of variables. It would be wise to rely on the CT for accuracy and hopefully, from the same source for your second CT. Good luck!!

My ascending aortic aneurysm is 4.8 c.m. according to a CT scan. I have had an echocardiogram done and was told that its not as accurate as a CT scan because echocardiograms cannot capture a full image, only partial. CT scans are the gold standard for aneurysm sizes. I was also told to return to the same location and equipment for CT scans for continuity. Hope this helps.

My ascending aneurysm measured 4.4-4.7-4.6 on an echocardiogram. This over a two year period. Live in Canada and takes 6 months to get a CT angiogram so looking at options in U.S. How long does it take to get an appointment in the U.S.? I live close to the Buffalo border

@peteh I live in Pa and I've never had to wait for a CTA. I saw my cardiologist in April and he wanted one done prior to my followup this month. I chose to wait 6 months, as I was getting blood work done prior to my cardiologist appointment and you need blood work prior to your CTA, because of the IV contrast. Thankfully my aneurysm has remained at 4.2 cm.
Hopefully you can get your scan earlier. Best wishes and prayers in your journey!🙏🙏

@pegsterb thank you. How long have you been at 4.2? Mine has remain the same for past 6 months. I only have three references points since discovered a year and a half ago.

@peteh 2 years. I'm 72. I see my cardiologist every 6 months and get an Echo. The measurements by Echo vary. Sometimes lower, Sometimes slightly higher. My CTA s have remained the same. 4.2 cm. CTAs are much more accurate. I hope you can get yours earlier.

I live in South East Virginia and can get CTA within a week

@pegsterb
Aneurysms cannot shrink.
The Echo tech who told you otherwise should be fired!

I had an echo of 4.6 confirmed by CT and then a year later 4.9 on echo and 4.8 CT. My doc uses the CT as the base line. This year still stable at 4.8. Compare same to same. Either echo or CT. But not against each other. My doc doesn’t seem concerned about it either. I guess they really worry when we get to the 5 threshold. My doc says he won’t operate until it is 5.5 or a 5 with leaking valve. Good luck.