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Jochen Hansmann

Publications and source records attributed to Jochen Hansmann.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Age related changes of human aortic distensibility: evaluation with ECG-gated CT.

Aortic distensibility is a parameter to grade vascular diseases and age-related effects because it is related to the elastic properties of the vessel wall. In this study vascular cross-sectional area changes have been determined using ECG-gated CT to analyse the age dependency of aortic distensibility. Distensibility measurements of the aorta were performed in 31 subjects (28 to 85 years). Time-resolved images were acquired either with a 4- or 16-detector row CT system using a modified CT angiography protocol. Cross-sectional area changes of the aorta were calculated by semiautomatic segmentation, and distensibility values were obtained using additional systemic blood pressure measurements. The aorta could be segmented successfully in all subjects. A decrease of aortic distensibility with age was found (r=0.50). Below (above) the renal arteries, the annual decrease was Delta D ( infrarenal ) =(-2.1+/-0.7).10(-7 )Pa(-1)a(-1), (D ( suprarenal ) Delta=(-3.5+/-1.1).10(-7 )Pa(-1)a(-1)). Differences between the ages, the youngest third and oldest third studied, were found to be significant (P( suprarenal )=0.003; P( infrarenal )=0.025). An age-dependent decrease of aortic wall elasticity can be determined in a modified routine CT angiography study.

Adult↗

Endovascular aortic arch reconstruction with supra-aortic transposition for symptomatic contained rupture and dissection: early experience in 8 high-risk patients.

PURPOSE: To report our initial experience with total and subtotal endovascular aortic arch reconstruction combined with supra-aortic vessel transposition in high-risk patients and to present a new morphological classification of thoracic aortic lesions for patient and procedure selection. METHODS: Among 80 patients treated with thoracic stent-grafts at our department between 1997 and 2003, 8 patients (6 men; mean age 71 years, range 45-81) unfit for open repair were not candidates for standard endovascular repair due to inadequate proximal landing zones on the aortic arch. Commercially available endografts (Excluder, Zenith, Endofit, Talent) were used to repair the arch after supra-aortic vessel transposition was performed. The endograft was implanted transfemorally or via an iliac Dacron conduit graft with standardized endovascular techniques and deployed during intravenous adenosine-induced asystole. The imaging data from all thoracic endograft patients was analyzed to classify thoracic and thoracoabdominal lesions according to a 4-level anatomical system. RESULTS: Deployment success was 100% after staged supra-aortic vessel transposition, but 1 patient died of endograft-related rupture of the proximal aortic arch. There was no neurological complication. Mean follow-up was 16 months (range 1-36). Patency of all endografts and conventional bypasses was 100%, and no migration was observed. One minor type II endoleak was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Initial results are encouraging for endovascular aortic arch repair in combination with supra-aortic transposition in selected high-risk patients with complex aortic pathologies.

Aged↗

Comparing image quality of flat-panel chest radiography with storage phosphor radiography and film-screen radiography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate image quality of a large-area direct-readout flat-panel detector system in chest radiography, we conducted an observer preference study. A clinical comparative study was conducted of the flat-panel system versus the storage phosphor and standard film-screen systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Routine chest radiographs (posteroanterior) of 30 patients that were obtained using flat-panel, storage phosphor, and film screen systems were compared. The visibility of 10 anatomic regions and the overall image quality criteria were rated independently by three radiologists using a 5-point scale. The significance of the differences in diagnostic performance was tested with a Wilcoxon's signed rank test. Dose measurements for the three modalities were performed. RESULTS: The flat-panel radiography system showed an improved visibility in most anatomic structures when compared with a state-of-the-art conventional film-screen system and an equal visibility when compared with a storage phosphor system. The flat-panel system showed the greatest enhancement in the depiction of small detailed structures (p < 0.05) and achieved this with a reduction in overall radiation dose of more than 50%. CONCLUSION: The visibility of anatomic structures provided by this flat-panel detector system is as good as if not better than that provided by conventional or storage phosphor systems while emitting a reduced radiation dose.

Humans↗

Clinical comparative study with a large-area amorphous silicon flat-panel detector: image quality and visibility of anatomic structures on chest radiography.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare clinical chest radiographs of a large-area, flat-panel digital radiography system and a conventional film-screen radiography system. The comparison was based on an observer preference study of image quality and visibility of anatomic structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Routine follow-up chest radiographs were obtained from 100 consecutive oncology patients using a large-area, amorphous silicon flat-panel detector digital radiography system (dose equivalent to a 400-speed film system). Hard-copy images were compared with previous examinations of the same individuals taken on a conventional film-screen system (200-speed). Patients were excluded if changes in the chest anatomy were detected or if the time interval between the examinations exceeded 1 year. Observer preference was evaluated for the image quality and the visibility of 15 anatomic structures using a five-point scale. RESULTS: Dose measurements with a chest phantom showed a dose reduction of approximately 50% with the digital radiography system compared with the film-screen radiography system. The image quality and the visibility of all but one anatomic structure of the images obtained with the digital flat-panel detector system were rated significantly superior (p < or = 0.0003) to those obtained with the conventional film-screen radiography system. CONCLUSION: The image quality and visibility of anatomic structures on the images obtained by the flat-panel detector system were perceived as equal or superior to the images from conventional film-screen chest radiography. This was true even though the radiation dose was reduced approximately 50% with the digital flat-panel detector system.

Humans↗