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P Theissen

Publications and source records attributed to P Theissen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Radioiodine therapy of Graves' hyperthyroidism in patients without pre-existing ophthalmopathy: can glucocorticoids prevent the development of new ophthalmopathy?

BACKGROUND: Radioiodine therapy (RIT) combined with glucocorticoids is an effective therapy for Graves' disease, but it is debatable whether glucocorticoids should be applied in patients without Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). METHODS: The effect of 0.4 - 0.5 mg prednisone every second day over a period of 5 weeks after RIT was monitored over a follow-up period of at least 12 months after RIT. A questionnaire was sent to 186 consecutive patients without GO concerning eye symptoms after RIT. 148 patients (80 %) answered. If eye symptoms had occurred after RIT, additional clinical examination was carried out at our outpatient clinic. The primary endpoint was the absence or onset of GO within the first year after RIT. RESULTS: Within 12 months after RIT the examination confirmed GO in 5 out of 148 patients (3.4 %). In all cases the symptoms were transient. No adverse reaction to the use of prednisone after RIT was noted. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of new GO in the first year after RIT was low and the clinical course of GO was mild when RIT was combined with a low-dose glucocorticoid regimen. Preventive administration of glucocorticoids can therefore be recommended in patients with Graves' disease even without evident GO.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Therapy for non-toxic multinodular goiter: radioiodine therapy as attractive alternative to surgery].

UNLABELLED: The need for therapy for nodular goiter results from the growth of thyroid nodules over decades and from the possibility of tracheal compression and worsening of respiratory function. Given the high prevalence of non-toxic goiter, the epidemiologically low incidence of clinically apparent thyroid cancer justifies non-surgical strategies. Randomised studies have shown that levothyroxine offers limited therapeutic effects and is inferior to radioiodine therapy regarding goiter shrinkage. When indication for a definitive therapy is given, the choice between resection and radioiodine therapy should consider volume of goiter, severity of clinical symptoms, thyroid uptake, patient's age, co-morbidity, previous resection of goiter, patient's profession and patient's wish. Even in large goiters between 100 and 300 ml radioiodine therapy showed consistent results with goiter size reduction from 35-40% one year and 40-60% two years after radioiodine therapy. Thyroid hormones to prevent recurrence of goiter are not necessary. Recurrent goiters were seldom observed after radioiodine therapy and resulted from initially very large goiters or uptake in dominate nodules or from low (131)I activities. Recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) offers the opportunity to enhance the effect of radioiodine therapy. Observational studies have shown that rhTSH increases low (131)I uptake in case of high alimentary iodine-supply by the factor 4, causes a more homogenous (131)I distribution within the goiter and improves goiter reduction. A phase I study for dose finding is running in the USA. CONCLUSION: Radioiodine therapy for shrinkage of large non-toxic goiter should not be restricted to elderly patients, or to patients with co-morbidity or high operative risk, but is an attractive alternative to surgery in patients with special professions (singer, teacher, speaker) or with the wish for a non-invasive treatment modality.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

[Established nuclear medicine techniques for tumour diagnosis (tumour SPECT): can they still compete with (18)F-FDG-PET?].

This overview presents the indications of tumour SPECT in contrast to tumour PET using (18)F-FDG. A number of diagnostic SPECT radiopharmaceuticals have been used for years in oncology and are widely available in nuclear medicine departments. Today, tumour SPECT has to compete with tumour PET using (18)F-FDG. Other PET radiopharmaceuticals are common only in specialised centers. In comparison to SPECT, PET images with their higher resolution are technically superior. Therefore, PET is better than SPECT in localising a tumour, if the special tumour entity accumulates (18)F-FDG. Thus, (18)F-FDG-PET has largely replaced SPECT examinations using (201)Tl chloride, (67)Ga citrate or (99m)Tc anti-CEA. It is questionable whether mammascintigraphy using (99m)Tc-MIBI or (99m)Tctetrofosmine will be broadly accepted in clinical routine. SPECT radiopharmaceuticals are still up to date for examination of tumour entities which do not accumulate (18)F-FDG (e. g. neuroendocrine tumours) and in clinical problem solving if (18)F-FDG-PET is not regarded as superior (e. g. search for recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma) or in the management of tumours with overlapping diagnosis and therapy as it is the case for differentiated thyroid carcinomas ((123)I/(131)I-NaI), phaeochromozytomas, and neuroblastomas ((123)I/(131)I-MIBG), carcinoids, gastroenteropancreatic tumours, paragangliomas, and Merkel-cell tumours (somatostatin receptor scintigraphy). Future developments concerning new SPECT radiopharmaceuticals and image fusion such as SPECT/CT are expected.

Fluorodeoxyglucose F18↗
PubMed2004

18F-FDG PET for detecting recurrent head and neck cancer, local lymph node involvement and distant metastases. Comparison of qualitative visual and semiquantitative analysis.

AIM: Assessment of the clinical value of (18)F-FDG-PET for detection of recurrent head and neck cancer, local lymph node involvement and distant metastases comparing a qualitative visual with a semiquantitative analysis (SUV values). PATIENTS, METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of 73 (18)F-FDG PET studies in 55 patients by use of a four-step qualitative visual grading system and calculation of standard uptake values in pathological lesions. Calculation of SUV values in normal regions for generating a map of physiological (18)F-FDG distribution. Correlation to histopathological findings and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: 1. Qualitative visual analysis of (18)F-FDG PET studies: a) local recurrence sensitivity 79%, specificity 97%, positive predictive value 95%, negative predictive value 85%, and diagnostic accuracy 89%; b) local metastatic lymph nodes 100%, 95%, 85%, 100%, 96%; c) distant metastases 100%, 98%, 86%, 100%, 98%, respectively. 2. Semiquantitative analysis had only little incremental, non-significant value in comparison to qualitative visual analysis for the detection of a local recurrence in two patients: a) local recurrence: sensitivity 83%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 88%, and diagnostic accuracy 93%; b) local metastatic lymph nodes or c) distant metastases did not change in comparison to qualitative visual analysis. CONCLUSION: (18)F-FDG PET is an effective tool for re-staging of patients with suspected recurrence after therapy for head and neck cancer.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2003

Clinical and diagnostic value of preoperative MR mammography and FDG-PET in suspicious breast lesions.

Dynamic enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) mammography and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) of the breast were directly compared preoperatively in suspicious breast lesions. Forty-two breast lesions in 40 patients were examined with a three-dimensional dynamic MR imaging series and FDG-PET. The MR and PET examinations were evaluated separately and the results were compared with the histological findings. The sensitivity and specificity of each method were calculated. The diagnostic value of both modalities as single diagnostic tool and in combination was investigated. Nineteen malignant and 23 benign breast lesions were proven histologically. Magnetic resonance mammography and FDG-PET showed a sensitivity of 89 and 63%, respectively. The specificity was 74 and 91%, respectively. The combination of both imaging methods decreased the not-required biopsies from 55 to 17%. Only one false-negative finding-a patient pre-treated with chemotherapy-was observed in both methods. The combination of MR mammography and FDG-PET can help to decrease biopsies of benign breast lesions. Because of their high cost, these modalities should only be used in problematic cases to either rule out or to demonstrate malignancy. The best diagnostic strategy is achieved using MR mammography first. If the diagnosis is still questionable, FDG-PET can be performed.

Breast↗
PubMed2003

[Prevention, screening and therapy of thyroid diseases and their cost-effectiveness].

Cost-effectiveness analyses focused on benign thyroid diseases are under-represented in the literature. The calculation of costs per additionally gained life year is difficult: The benefit of prevention is shifted into the distant future. The influence of an untreated subclinical thyroid disease on life expectancy can only be demonstrated by a long-term follow-up and by epidemiological databases. Iodine supplementation and programs for the prevention of tobacco smoking (primary prevention) are very cost-effective. Smoking increases the risk both of multinodular goiter and of Graves' disease. Screening programs (secondary prevention) are discussed for the laboratory parameters thyrotropin (TSH), calcium and calcitonin. TSH testing seems to be very cost-effective for epidemiological considerations in a certain lifespan (newborn, pregnancy, postpartal, older persons, hospitalisation due to acute diseases) and in persons with previously elevated TPO-antibodies or TSH-values >2 mU/l, but dedicated cost-effectiveness analyses are lacking. On the other hand, the cost-effectiveness of a routine TSH testing beyond the age of 35 years has been shown by a high-quality decision analysis. Therapeutic strategies (tertiary prevention) aim at the avoidance of complications (atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, death for cardiac reasons) and of iatrogenic complications. Examples of a tertiary prevention are: firstly the definitive therapy of Graves' disease in patients who have an increased risk of relapse after antithyroid drugs (ATD), secondly the radioiodine therapy for subclinical hyperthyroidism and the radioiodine therapy of large goiters in older patients or in patients suffering from a relevant comorbidity. Cost-effectiveness analyses for different therapeutic strategies of Graves' disease were published using a lifelong time-horizon. The ablative radioiodine dose-regime is cost-effective as a first line therapy if the risk of relapse after ATD exceeds 60%.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2002

[Assessment of endocrine disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis by nuclear medicine techniques].

The following article reviews nuclear medicine techniques which can be used for assessment of endocrine disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. For planar and SPECT imaging somatostatin-receptor- and dopamine-D2-receptor-scintigraphy are the most widely distributed techniques. These nuclear medicine techniques may be indicated in selected cases to answer differential diagnostic problems. They can be helpful to search for presence and localization of receptor positive tissue. Furthermore they can detect metastasis in the rare cases of a pituitary carcinoma. Scintigraphy with Gallium-67 is suitable for further diagnostic evaluation in suspected hypophysitis. Other SPECT radiopharmaca do not have relevant clinical significance. F-18-FDG as PET radiopharmacon is not ideal because obvious pituitary adenomas could not be visualized. Other PET radiopharmaca including C-11-methionine, C-11-tyrosine, F-18-fluoroethylspiperone, C-11-methylspiperone, and C-11-raclopride are available in specialized centers only. Overall indications for nuclear medicine in studies for the assessment of endocrine disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-axis are rare. Original studies often report only about a small number of patients. According to the authors' opinion the relevance of nuclear medicine in studies of clinically important endocrinologic fields, e.g. localization of small ACTH-producing pituitary adenomas, tumor localization in ectopic ACTH syndrome, localization of recurrent pituitary tissue, assessment of small incidentalomas, can not be definitely given yet.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Non-Q-wave myocardial infarction: impaired myocardial energy metabolism in regions with reduced 99mTc-MIBI accumulation.

Reduced regional technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) accumulation in patients with chronic non-Q-wave infarction (NQWI) but without significant coronary artery stenosis indicates non-transmural damage of the myocardial wall. The aim of this study was to characterise cardiac energy metabolism after NQWI using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) and to compare the biochemical remodelling with changes in regional 99mTc-MIBI uptake and with morphological and functional parameters assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fifteen patients with a history of NQWI, exclusion of significant coronary artery stenosis (<50% diameter stenosis) and hypokinesia of the anterior wall (group A) were examined with 31P-MRS to study the effects of NQWI on myocardial energy metabolism. Spectroscopic measurements were performed in the infarct-related myocardial region. Corresponding gradient-echo MR images and myocardial 99mTc-MIBI single-photon emission tomography images were acquired for exact localisation of the infarct region. All examinations were performed at rest under anti-ischaemic medication. Data were compared with those of patients in whom coronary artery disease had been excluded by angiography (group B, n=10). All patients of group A displayed anterior wall hypokinesia in the infarcted area on both ventriculography and MRI, with a reduced myocardial accumulation of 99mTc-MIBI (66.3%+/-11.8% vs 95.6%+/-2.2% in group B). The mean wall thickness during the complete cardiac cycle (9.5+/-1.8 mm vs 13.1+/-1.1 mm in group B, P<0.001), the systolic wall thickening (2.6+/-1.4 mm vs 5.8+/-1.5 mm in group B, P<0.01) and the phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate ratio (1.12+/-0.22 vs 1.74+/-0.23 in group B, P<0.01) in the hypokinetic area were all significantly reduced. It is concluded that persisting hypokinetic myocardium after NQWI combined with reduced myocellular uptake of 99mTc-MIBI displays a reduced PCr/ATP ratio. Our results indicate that morphological remodelling after NQWI is accompanied by fundamental changes in cardiac energy metabolism.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2001

[Cost-effectiveness of PET in the management algorithms of lung tumors: comparison of health economic data].

Modelling is an accepted, valid and often necessary method for assessing economic effectiveness in terms of cost per life year gained. Comparing an alternative strategy (a) with a baseline strategy (bl), the incremental cost (COSTa-COSTbl) divided by the incremental life expectancy (LEa-LEbl) defines the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Taking watchful waiting as the low-cost baseline strategy for the management of solitary pulmonary nodules, the ICER of positron emission tomography (PET) [3218 euros (EUR) per life year saved (LYS)] was more favourable than that of exploratory surgery (4210 EUR/LYS) or that of transthoracic needle biopsy (6120 EUR/LYS). Changing the baseline strategy to exploratory surgery, the use of PET led to cost savings and additional life expectancy in case of an intermediate pretest probability of malignancy. For management of potentially operable non-small cell lung cancer the use of PET in patients with normalisized mediastinal lymph nodes on CT was most cost-effective (143 EUR/LYS), and the costs of PET were almost balanced by a better selection of patients for beneficial cancer resection. Using PET in patients with enlarged lymph nodes on CT, the ICER raised to 36,667 EUR/LYS. When PET or CT were positive for mediastinal lymph nodes, the exclusion from biopsy confirmation led to cost savings that did not justify the expected reduction in life expectancy. Economic data from the USA and Japan also demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of PET-based algorithms for the management of lung tumours.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2001

[Comparison of dobutamine-stress magnetic resonance imaging and dipyridamole-TL-201-SPECT as alternative strategies for the detection of coronary artery dis in patients no suitable for stress echocardiography].

AIM: During the past decade stress-echocardiography has gained increasing popularity for detection of myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease. However, about 10% to 15% of the patients submitted for stress-echocardiography do not have an adequate acoustic window. The purpose of this study was to compare high-dose dobutamine-stress magnetic resonance imaging (dobutamine-MRI) with dipyridamole-Tl-201-SPECT (dipyridamole-SPECT) as alternative strategies for detection of myocardial ischemia in patients with inadequate image quality by stress-echocardiography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 296 patients which were consecutively submitted to stress-echocardiography 45 patients (15%) had two or more segments that could not be evaluated according to the 16-segment-model of the American Society of Echocardiography. They underwent dobutamine-MRI and dipyridamole-SPECT studies, which were evaluated using a 28-segment modell. Myocardial segments were attributed to perfusion territories of the coronary arteries. The results of ischemia detection were compared to the results of coronary angiography (stenosis > or = 50%). RESULTS: In comparison to coronary angiography dobutamine-MRI yielded a sensitivity of 87%, a specificity of 86%, a positive predictive value of 93%, a negative predictive value of 75% and a diagnostic accuracy of 86%. For dipyridamole-SPECT results were 90%, 86%, 93%, 80% and 89%, respectively. These values were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: In patients not suitable for stress-echocardiography, both dobutamine-MRI and dipyridamole-SPECT are reliable strategies for detection of myocardial ischemia. Selection is dependent on the patient criteria, technical considerations, local logistics and experience of the observer.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed2000

Magnetic resonance pharmacological stress for detecting coronary disease. Comparison with echocardiography.

Stress testing is the cornerstone in the diagnosis of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Although exercise ECG remains the primary approach for the detection of ischemia in patients with chest pain syndromes, its sensitivity and specificity is limited and exercise ECG does not provide detailed information about the localisation and extent of CAD. Stress echocardiography has been used for the detection of ischemia for more than a decade and has become an increasingly popular noninvasive method for the detection of CAD. In experienced hands wall motion analysis based on stress echocardiography has proved to be as sensitive and specific for the detection of myocardial ischemia as scintigraphic techniques. Recent technical improvements, namely the availability of ultrafast imaging sequences with a significant reduction of imaging time have initiated several studies which examined the combination of pharmacological stress and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of suspected CAD. The most well developed stress-MRI technique is wall motion imaging during dobutamine stress. This technique is analogous to stress echocardiography, but MRI has the inherent advantages of better resolution, higher reproducibility and true long and short axis imaging with contiguous parallel slices. However, the clinical impact of MRI for the diagnosis of CAD is still low. Further technical developments including real time imaging and a reliable automated quantitative analysis of left ventricular function are required before stress-MRI becomes a serious challenge to stress-echocardiography in the clinical arena. Currently, only a few MRI facilities and physicians are dedicated to pharmacological stress testing with MRI and the future clinical impact of this promising technique will depend on its potential to provide information beyond myocardial function including perfusion, metabolism and coronary anatomy in form of a "one-stop"-shop for the cardiac patient.

Cardiotonic Agents↗
PubMed2000

Cost-effectiveness of FDG-PET for the management of solitary pulmonary nodules: a decision analysis based on cost reimbursement in Germany.

Management of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) of up to 3 cm was modelled on decision analysis comparing "wait and watch", transthoracic needle biopsy (TNB), exploratory surgery and full-ring dedicated positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorine-18 2-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for the main risk group, a cohort of 62-year-old men, using first "wait and watch" and second exploratory surgery as the baseline strategy. Based on published data, the sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET were estimated at 0.95 and 0.80 for detecting malignancy in SPNs and at 0.74 and 0.96 for detecting metastasis in normal-sized mediastinal lymph nodes. The costs quoted correspond to reimbursement in 1999 by the public health provider in Germany. Decision analysis modelling indicates the potential cost-effectiveness of the FDG-PET strategy for management of SPNs. Taking watchful waiting as the low-cost baseline strategy, the ICER of PET [3218 euros (EUR) per life year saved] was more favourable than that of exploratory surgery (4210 EUR/year) or that of TNB (6120 EUR/year). Changing the baseline strategy to exploratory surgery, the use of PET led to cost savings and additional life expectancy. This constellation was described by a negative ICER of -6912 EUR/year. The PET algorithm was cost-effective for risk and non-risk patients. However, the ICER of PET as the preferred strategy was sensitive to a hypothetical deterioration of any PET parameters by more than 0.07. To transfer the diagnostic efficacy from controlled studies to the routine user and to maintain the cost-effectiveness of this technology, obligatory protocols for data acquisitions would need to be defined. If the prevalence of SPNs is estimated at the USA level (52 per 100,000 individuals) and assuming that multiple strategies without PET are the norm, the overall costs of a newly implemented PET algorithm would be limited to far less than one EUR per member of the public health provider in Germany.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed2000

Cost-effectiveness of FDG-PET for the management of potentially operable non-small cell lung cancer: priority for a PET-based strategy after nodal-negative CT results.

Decision analysis is used here to establish the most cost-effective strategy for management of potentially operable non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). The strategies compared were conventional staging (strategy A), dedicated systems of positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in patients with normal-sized (strategy B) or in patients with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes (part of strategy C), and FDG-PET followed by exclusion from surgical procedures when both computed tomography (CT) and PET were positive for mediastinal lymph nodes (strategy D) or when PET alone was positive (strategy E). Based on published data, the sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET were estimated at 0.74 and 0.96 for detecting metastasis in normal-sized mediastinal lymph nodes, and at 0.95 and 0.76 when these lymph nodes were enlarged. The calculated probability of up-staging to M1 by using PET was 0.05. The costs quoted correspond to the cost reimbursed in 1999 by the public health provider in Germany. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of strategy B was much more favourable (143 EUR/LYS; LYS = life year saved) than the ICER of strategy C (36,667 EUR/LYS). In strategy B, the use of PET did not raise the overall costs because the costs of PET were almost balanced by a better selection of patients for beneficial cancer resection. The exclusion from biopsy confirmation in strategies D and E led to cost savings that did not justify the expected reduction in life expectancy. In sensitivity analyses, the ICERs of strategy B were robust to the pretest likelihood of N2/N3, to penalized test parameters of PET and to reimbursement of PET. However, the ICER of strategy B would be raised to 28,000 EUR/LYS through use of thoracic PET without whole-body scanning. To conclude, the implementation of whole-body PET with a full ring of detectors in the preoperative staging of patients with NSCLC and normal-sized lymph nodes is clearly cost-effective. However, patients with nodal-positive PET results should not be excluded from biopsy.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗
PubMed2000

[Magnetic resonance tomography in clinical cardiology].

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a well-established method for the diagnosis of diseases of the heart and the great vessels. Almost 20% of all patients cannot be completely examined by transthoracic echocardiography. In this patient group, MRI can be used as a second line technique to provide important diagnostic information not obtainable by echocardiography. However, there are clinical problems for which MRI may be used as the first line technique such as complex congenital heart disease, diseases of the great vessels, pericardial disease or cardiac tumors. MRI is undergoing rapid technical improvement and this will further improve the diagnostic utility of the technique, especially in patients with coronary artery disease.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2000

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA) with situs inversus totalis in adulthood: findings with magnetic resonance imaging.

Diagnosis of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA) with situs inversus totalis in two adult patients was made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Visualization of the complete anatomy and quantification of ventricular function was possible. Relevant concomitant disease such as perimembraneous ventricular septal defect, atrial secundum septal defect, tricuspid regurgitation, valvular pulmonic stenosis, and pulmonary artery dilatation were clearly depicted by MRI using standard spin-echo and gradient-echo techniques. Findings were confirmed by cardiac catheterization in both patients. In this rare and complex congenital cardiac anomaly, MRI is an excellent imaging modality as echocardiography may be difficult to interpret due to restricted imaging windows. MRI may help in the decision about the necessity to undergo further invasive evaluation and may help to make cardiac catheterization a straightforward procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Long-term follow-up of 82 patients with chronic disease of the thoracic aorta using spin-echo and cine gradient magnetic resonance imaging.

The objective of this study to examine the clinical impact of magnetic resonance imaging in long-term follow-up of patients (pts) with chronic disease of the thoracic aorta such as coarctation of the aorta, chronic aortic dissection and true aortic aneurysm. A total of 322 magnetic resonance examinations obtained in 82 pts with chronic disease of the thoracic aorta (31 pts with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), 29 pts with chronic aortic dissection and 22 pts with true aneurysm) over a period of 0.25 to 13.5 (mean +/- SD: 6.5 +/- 3.4) years were retrospectively reviewed. Diameters of the thoracic aorta were measured at predefined levels and morphological and functional parameters of special interest were analysed in each patient group. Pts were classified as having constant or progressive disease and clinical end-points were defined as (re-)operation or death. 43 pts (52%) (CoA 15 pts, chronic dissection 16 pts, true aneurysm 12 pts) had constant findings. None of them underwent (re-)operation and seven patients (16%) died, three of them from their aortic disease more than five years later after their last magnetic resonance examination, one from an arrhythmogenic event, and in the remaining 3 pts the cause of death could not be definitely established. 39 pts (48%) (CoA 16 pts, chronic dissection 13 pts, true aneurysm 10 pts) had progressive disease as demonstrated by repetitive magnetic resonance imaging. Of these 39 pts 24 pts underwent (re-)operation, in 15 pts operation was postponed. Four pts died from their aortic disease. Repetitive magnetic resonance imaging is a clinically feasible technique for long-term follow-up of pts with chronic disease of the thoracic aorta because it can detect progressive disease in a large subset of pts requiring elective surgery. The results of magnetic resonance imaging provided the rationale for either (re-)operation or conservative management, thus guiding patient management.

Adolescent↗