Differences in the Development of Local Atherosclerotic Changes in the Aortic Arch

Objective: to study the dynamic and patterns of atherosclerotic changes in the aortic arch using computed tomography data.
Material and methods. The computed tomography data of 158 patients obtained at the Philips Ingenuity CT scanner without contrast were studied. The aortic arch was divided into three parts: Part I – up to the brachiocephalic artery, Part II – up to the left subclavian artery, and Part III – distal to the left subclavian artery. The position of the local atherosclerotic lesions was determined by dividing the aorta into 24 segments. The data were grouped and statistically analyzed.
Results. Three age groups were identified: Group 1 – up to 55 years, Group 2 – 56–70 years, and Group 3 – over 70 years. The severity of aortic wall changes was assessed quantitatively by calculating the total number of affected segments among participants in each group. The significance level was p<0.05. Similar patterns of aortic atherosclerosis were found, but the location was not related to gender. The least number of lesions was in Part I of the arch, and the greatest was in Part III. There was an increase with age.
Conclusion. Atherosclerotic disease of the aortic arch is most commonly found in the upper half (segments 22–24) of Part I. In Part II, it was more frequent in the right half (segments 15–22). In Part III, the lesions were most pronounced in lower segments and on the left (segments 6–14). The location of lesions in men and women was slightly different.

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