Imaging options for assessing thoracic aortic aneurysm
| Considerations | TTE | TEE | CTA | MRA | Aortography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy of measurement | Medium | Medium | High | High | Low |
| Extent of aortic assessment | Limited | Medium | Entire | Entire | Limited |
| Detecting acute aortic syndromes | Poor | Medium | High | High | Poor |
| Aortic regurgitation and grading | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Limited |
| Portable | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Contrast | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radiation | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cost | Low | Medium | Medium | High | High |
| Invasive procedure | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Recommended line of investigation | Second | Third | First | Second | Third |
CTA = computed tomography angiography; MRA = magnetic resonance angiography; TEE = transesophageal echocardiography; TTE = transthoracic echocardiography
Based on information in reference 9.