Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (832 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Radiographic visualization of the aorta and its branches by injection of contrast media, using percutaneous puncture or catheterization procedures.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Aortographies.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Angiography
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 16,167 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Aortography” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 897 of them (5.5%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 7,583 records.
Reviews account for 1,009 records (6.2%) and meta-analyses for 23. Randomized controlled trials number 117 (0.7%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 7,583 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,267 |
| 2010-2019 | 5,420 |
| 2020 onward | 897 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,009 | 6.2% |
| Meta-analyses | 23 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 117 | 0.7% |
Method: PubMed query "Aortography"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in diagnostics and medical technology
A test or device is judged by how well it detects a condition, how often it gives false alarms or misses cases, and whether using it improves outcomes for people. Accuracy depends on who is tested and how common the condition is, so a test that performs well in a specialist hospital can perform differently in the community. Check the reference standard, the population studied, the sensitivity and specificity and whether results were confirmed in a separate group.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Normal values for aortic diameters in children and adolescents--assessment in vivo by contrast-enhanced CMR-angiography [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundContrast-enhanced CMR angiography (CE-CMRA) is being increasingly used for diagnosing aortic arch anomalies, planning interventions and follow-up assessment.
- Closing excerpt
- These data may serve for making the diagnosis of pediatric arch anomalies, assessing the need for treatment and planning interventions.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (205 words)
BackgroundContrast-enhanced CMR angiography (CE-CMRA) is being increasingly used for diagnosing aortic arch anomalies, planning interventions and follow-up assessment. We sought to establish normal values for the diameters of the thoracic aorta and reference curves related to body growth in children using CE-CMRA.ResultsCE-CMRA was performed in 53 children without cardiovascular disease. The median age was 9 years (range 2 - 20 years), weight 30 kg (range 12 - 75 kg), height 131 cm (range 81 - 184 cm), body surface area (BSA) 1.05 m2 (range 0.52-1.9 m2). Aortic diameters were measured at nine standardized sites on oblique maximum-intensity projection (MIP) images. Regression analysis of diameters in relation to BSA demonstrated linear relationship between the cross-sectional aortic diameters and the square root of BSA (BSA0.5). Normative diameters were (0.57 + 19.37*BSA0.5) mm for the aortic sinus, (-3.52 + 18.66*BSA0.5) mm for the first segment of the aortic arch, (-3.37 + 16.52*BSA0.5) mm for the isthmic region and (-1.27 + 9.89*BSA0.5) mm for the descending aorta at the level of the diaphragm. Normative curves are presented.ConclusionThis study provides normative values for aortic diameters in children measured by CE-CMRA. These data may serve for making the diagnosis of pediatric arch anomalies, assessing the need for treatment and planning interventions.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 19061495 · DOI · PMC2615773
3D Automatic Segmentation of Aortic Computed Tomography Angiography Combining Multi-View 2D Convolutional Neural Networks [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeThe quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is essential to assess aortic anatomy, identify pathologies, and perform preoperative planning in vascular surgery.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionThe achieved results show that the proposed pipeline can effectively localize and segment the aortic lumen in subjects with aneurysm.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (242 words)
PurposeThe quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is essential to assess aortic anatomy, identify pathologies, and perform preoperative planning in vascular surgery. To overcome the limitations given by manual and semi-automatic segmentation tools, we apply a deep learning-based pipeline to automatically segment the CTA scans of the aortic lumen, from the ascending aorta to the iliac arteries, accounting for 3D spatial coherence.MethodsA first convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to coarsely segment and locate the aorta in the whole sub-sampled CTA volume, then three single-view CNNs are used to effectively segment the aortic lumen from axial, sagittal, and coronal planes under higher resolution. Finally, the predictions of the three orthogonal networks are integrated to obtain a segmentation with spatial coherence.ResultsThe coarse segmentation performed to identify the aortic lumen achieved a Dice coefficient (DSC) of 0.92 ± 0.01. Single-view axial, sagittal, and coronal CNNs provided a DSC of 0.92 ± 0.02, 0.92 ± 0.04, and 0.91 ± 0.02, respectively. Multi-view integration provided a DSC of 0.93 ± 0.02 and an average surface distance of 0.80 ± 0.26 mm on a test set of 10 CTA scans. The generation of the ground truth dataset took about 150 h and the overall training process took 18 h. In prediction phase, the adopted pipeline takes around 25 ± 1 s to get the final segmentation.ConclusionThe achieved results show that the proposed pipeline can effectively localize and segment the aortic lumen in subjects with aneurysm.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32783134 · DOI · PMC7511465
Monitoring the biological activity of abdominal aortic aneurysms Beyond Ultrasound [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are an important cause of morbidity and, when ruptured, are associated with >80% mortality.
- Closing excerpt
- By going beyond the simple monitoring of diameter expansion using ultrasound, these cellular and molecular imaging techniques may have the potential to allow improved prediction of expansion or rupture and to better guide elective surgical intervention.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (193 words)
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are an important cause of morbidity and, when ruptured, are associated with >80% mortality. Current management decisions are based on assessment of aneurysm diameter by abdominal ultrasound. However, AAA growth is non-linear and rupture can occur at small diameters or may never occur in those with large AAAs. There is a need to develop better imaging biomarkers that can identify the potential risk of rupture independent of the aneurysm diameter. Key pathobiological processes of AAA progression and rupture include neovascularisation, necrotic inflammation, microcalcification and proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix. These processes represent key targets for emerging imaging techniques and may confer an increased risk of expansion or rupture over and above the known patient-related risk factors. Magnetic resonance imaging, using ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide, can identify and track hotspots of macrophage activity. Positron emission tomography, using a variety of targeted tracers, can detect areas of inflammation, angiogenesis, hypoxia and microcalcification. By going beyond the simple monitoring of diameter expansion using ultrasound, these cellular and molecular imaging techniques may have the potential to allow improved prediction of expansion or rupture and to better guide elective surgical intervention.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 26879242 · DOI · PMC4893091
Preoperative Risk Stratification of Cerebral Infarction in Aortic Arch Surgery Using Quantitative Atheroma Assessment with Computational Fluid Dynamics [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeWe developed a quantitative method to evaluate aortic atheroma and investigated its association with postoperative cerebral infarction (CI) after aortic arch surgery.
- Closing excerpt
- CFD findings offer mechanistic insight into embolic risk, supporting the clinical relevance of atheroma burden in aortic arch surgery.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (192 words)
PurposeWe developed a quantitative method to evaluate aortic atheroma and investigated its association with postoperative cerebral infarction (CI) after aortic arch surgery. In addition, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed to explore the underlying hemodynamic mechanisms.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 72 patients who underwent aortic arch surgery. Atheroma scores were calculated from preoperative computed tomography, and a qualitative assessment was also performed. Multivariate logistic regression identified risk factors for CI. CFD analysis was conducted in selected patients to provide mechanistic insights.ResultsCI occurred in 8 patients (11.1%). Atheroma scores were significantly higher in patients with CI (P = .02), whereas qualitative assessment did not predict CI. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.79 for the ascending aorta, with a cutoff of 352.3. Multivariate analysis including age demonstrated that hemoglobin A1c and an ascending atheroma score ≥352.3 were independent predictors of CI. CFD demonstrated high wall shear stress in the ascending aorta, providing mechanistic insight into embolic events.ConclusionsQuantitative assessment of ascending aortic atheroma provides superior risk stratification compared with qualitative evaluation. CFD findings offer mechanistic insight into embolic risk, supporting the clinical relevance of atheroma burden in aortic arch surgery.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42604806 · DOI · PMC13481124
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Diagnosis of Aortic Graft Infection: A Case Definition by the Management of Aortic Graft Infection Collaboration (MAGIC) [5]
- Research article Multidetector CT of Aortic Dissection: A Pictorial Review [6]
- Research article Aortitis: imaging spectrum of the infectious and inflammatory conditions of the aorta [7]
- Research article CT and MRI in diseases of the aorta [8]
- Research article Secondary interventions following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and the enduring value of graft surveillance [9]
- Research article Current evidence in predictors of aortic growth and events in acute type B aortic dissection [10]
References
- Kaiser T, Kellenberger CJ, Albisetti M, Bergsträsser E, Valsangiacomo Buechel ER. Normal values for aortic diameters in children and adolescents--assessment in vivo by contrast-enhanced CMR-angiography. . 2008. PMID 19061495 · DOI · PMC2615773
- Fantazzini A, Esposito M, Finotello A, Auricchio F, Pane B, Basso C, et al.. 3D Automatic Segmentation of Aortic Computed Tomography Angiography Combining Multi-View 2D Convolutional Neural Networks. . 2020. PMID 32783134 · DOI · PMC7511465
- Forsythe RO, Newby DE, Robson JM. Monitoring the biological activity of abdominal aortic aneurysms Beyond Ultrasound. . 2016. PMID 26879242 · DOI · PMC4893091
- Ikeuchi H, Kohno H, Matsuura K, Watanabe M, Inui T, Yakita Y, et al.. Preoperative Risk Stratification of Cerebral Infarction in Aortic Arch Surgery Using Quantitative Atheroma Assessment with Computational Fluid Dynamics. . 2026. PMID 42604806 · DOI · PMC13481124
- Lyons OT, Baguneid M, Barwick TD, Bell RE, Foster N, Homer-Vanniasinkam S, et al.. Diagnosis of Aortic Graft Infection: A Case Definition by the Management of Aortic Graft Infection Collaboration (MAGIC). Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2016. PMID 27771318 · DOI
- McMahon MA, Squirrell CA. Multidetector CT of Aortic Dissection: A Pictorial Review. Radiographics. 2010. PMID 20228328 · DOI
- Restrepo CS, Ocazionez D, Suri R, Vargas D. Aortitis: imaging spectrum of the infectious and inflammatory conditions of the aorta. Radiographics. 2011. PMID 21415189 · DOI
- Litmanovich D, Bankier AA, Cantin L, Raptopoulos V, Boiselle PM. CT and MRI in diseases of the aorta. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2009. PMID 19770313 · DOI
- Nordon IM, Karthikesalingam A, Hinchliffe RJ, Holt PJ, Loftus IM, Thompson MM. Secondary interventions following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and the enduring value of graft surveillance. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2010. PMID 19939711 · DOI
- Spinelli D, Benedetto F, Donato R, Piffaretti G, Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Patel HJ, et al.. Current evidence in predictors of aortic growth and events in acute type B aortic dissection. J Vasc Surg. 2018. PMID 30115384 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.