Advanced Imaging Tools Offer More Accurate Predictions for Aortic Dissection Patients

Cardiovascular System (Image: Europeana/Unsplash)

Earlier this year, Dr. Rudolph L. Gleason and researchers from The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory, a core Legacy Labs tenant, published a study that provides a more precise tool for assessing risk in type B aortic dissection (TBAD) patients. The study focuses on how the shape of the aorta can help predict outcomes for patients treated with medication alone.

In TBAD, a tear forms in the aorta’s inner wall, creating a “false lumen.” While medication is often used to manage uncomplicated TBAD, long-term outcomes can be poor due to the continued expansion of the aorta, which can lead to severe complications. The study aimed to determine if specific aortic shape features visible in early CT scans could predict whether medication would be sufficient or if further intervention, like surgery, would be needed. The researchers also aimed to predict how fast the aorta might expand over time.

Using CT scans from 46 patients, the team created 3D statistical shape models (SSM) of the aorta to analyze its structure in detail. By applying principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) regression, they broke down the aorta’s shape into measurable features compared to traditional features like aortic diameter.

The study found that size-related features, such as aortic width and length, differed between patients who responded well to medication and those who required further treatment. However, these traditional features were less effective in predicting the aortic growth rate. In contrast, 3D shape features derived from SSM were much better at predicting growth, especially when paired with support vector regression (SVR), a machine learning model.

The study concluded that advanced 3D models of the aorta’s shape, combined with SVR, provide a more accurate prediction of who may need early intervention, leading to improved patient outcomes and long-term survival.