Atherosclerotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms on Computed Tomography Angiography: A Narrative Review on Spectrum of Findings, Structured Reporting, Treatment, Secondary Complications and Differential Diagnosis

Atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are a common vascular pathology with significant morbidity and mortality risks. Timely diagnosis, accurate characterization, and standardized reporting are critical for effective management and monitoring of atherosclerotic AAAs. Imaging modalities,...

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Main Authors: Roberta Scicolone, Kosmas I. Paraskevas, Giovanni Argiolas, Antonella Balestrieri, Paolo Siotto, Jasjit S. Suri, Michele Porcu, Cesare Mantini, Massimo Caulo, Salvatore Masala, Filippo Cademartiri, Roberto Sanfilippo, Luca Saba
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/6/706
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author Roberta Scicolone
Kosmas I. Paraskevas
Giovanni Argiolas
Antonella Balestrieri
Paolo Siotto
Jasjit S. Suri
Michele Porcu
Cesare Mantini
Massimo Caulo
Salvatore Masala
Filippo Cademartiri
Roberto Sanfilippo
Luca Saba
author_facet Roberta Scicolone
Kosmas I. Paraskevas
Giovanni Argiolas
Antonella Balestrieri
Paolo Siotto
Jasjit S. Suri
Michele Porcu
Cesare Mantini
Massimo Caulo
Salvatore Masala
Filippo Cademartiri
Roberto Sanfilippo
Luca Saba
author_sort Roberta Scicolone
collection DOAJ
description Atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are a common vascular pathology with significant morbidity and mortality risks. Timely diagnosis, accurate characterization, and standardized reporting are critical for effective management and monitoring of atherosclerotic AAAs. Imaging modalities, particularly computed tomography angiography (CTA), play a pivotal role in the detection, treatment planning, and identification of both primary and secondary complications, as well as distinguishing AAAs from other etiologies. This narrative review provides a comprehensive exploration of the spectrum of imaging findings in atherosclerotic AAAs on CTA, underscoring the importance of structured reporting. Additionally, it examines therapeutic approaches and complications, and it differentiates AAAs from inflammatory, mycotic, and traumatic variants, serving as a primer for radiologists in AAA evaluation.
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spelling doaj-art-7c9d65ae7f7b41f09a7fd2ba1558d1762025-08-20T02:42:42ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-03-0115670610.3390/diagnostics15060706Atherosclerotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms on Computed Tomography Angiography: A Narrative Review on Spectrum of Findings, Structured Reporting, Treatment, Secondary Complications and Differential DiagnosisRoberta Scicolone0Kosmas I. Paraskevas1Giovanni Argiolas2Antonella Balestrieri3Paolo Siotto4Jasjit S. Suri5Michele Porcu6Cesare Mantini7Massimo Caulo8Salvatore Masala9Filippo Cademartiri10Roberto Sanfilippo11Luca Saba12Department of Radiology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Brotzu, Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Brotzu, Cagliari, ItalyStroke Division and Monitoring Division, AtheroPointTM, Roseville, CA, USADepartment of Radiology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, “G. D’Annunzio” University, Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, “G. D’Annunzio” University, Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, University of Sassari, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Imaging, IRCCS Synlab SDN, Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Vascular Surgery, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Radiology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalyAtherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are a common vascular pathology with significant morbidity and mortality risks. Timely diagnosis, accurate characterization, and standardized reporting are critical for effective management and monitoring of atherosclerotic AAAs. Imaging modalities, particularly computed tomography angiography (CTA), play a pivotal role in the detection, treatment planning, and identification of both primary and secondary complications, as well as distinguishing AAAs from other etiologies. This narrative review provides a comprehensive exploration of the spectrum of imaging findings in atherosclerotic AAAs on CTA, underscoring the importance of structured reporting. Additionally, it examines therapeutic approaches and complications, and it differentiates AAAs from inflammatory, mycotic, and traumatic variants, serving as a primer for radiologists in AAA evaluation.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/6/706AAACTAruptureimpending ruptureEVARendoleak
spellingShingle Roberta Scicolone
Kosmas I. Paraskevas
Giovanni Argiolas
Antonella Balestrieri
Paolo Siotto
Jasjit S. Suri
Michele Porcu
Cesare Mantini
Massimo Caulo
Salvatore Masala
Filippo Cademartiri
Roberto Sanfilippo
Luca Saba
Atherosclerotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms on Computed Tomography Angiography: A Narrative Review on Spectrum of Findings, Structured Reporting, Treatment, Secondary Complications and Differential Diagnosis
Diagnostics
AAA
CTA
rupture
impending rupture
EVAR
endoleak
title Atherosclerotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms on Computed Tomography Angiography: A Narrative Review on Spectrum of Findings, Structured Reporting, Treatment, Secondary Complications and Differential Diagnosis
title_full Atherosclerotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms on Computed Tomography Angiography: A Narrative Review on Spectrum of Findings, Structured Reporting, Treatment, Secondary Complications and Differential Diagnosis
title_fullStr Atherosclerotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms on Computed Tomography Angiography: A Narrative Review on Spectrum of Findings, Structured Reporting, Treatment, Secondary Complications and Differential Diagnosis
title_full_unstemmed Atherosclerotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms on Computed Tomography Angiography: A Narrative Review on Spectrum of Findings, Structured Reporting, Treatment, Secondary Complications and Differential Diagnosis
title_short Atherosclerotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms on Computed Tomography Angiography: A Narrative Review on Spectrum of Findings, Structured Reporting, Treatment, Secondary Complications and Differential Diagnosis
title_sort atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysms on computed tomography angiography a narrative review on spectrum of findings structured reporting treatment secondary complications and differential diagnosis
topic AAA
CTA
rupture
impending rupture
EVAR
endoleak
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/6/706
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