Measuring the Ascending Aorta Diameter
The diameter of the ascending aorta is commonly acquired on transverse, electro-cardiogram(ECG)-gated, steady state free precession sequences (A.). The measure also may be determined on axial, fast spoiled gradient echo (FSPGR) sequences—incoherent gradient echo images that are obtained using a gadolinium-contrast agent (B.). FSPGR generates water only, fat only, and in-phase and out-of-phase echoes in a single acquisition. The diameter bisects the vessel and may be graded (Tb.).
