Aortic length: angiocardiographic measurements.

Statistical analysis of measurement of aortic length made on 250 angiocardiograms indicates that arteriosclerosis, hypertension and syphilitic aortitis produce elongation of the aorta. Aortic length varies widely among normal individuals but is roughly ten times the caliber of the ascending aorta. Syphilitic aortitis produces disproportionate elongation of the ascending portion of the aorta as compared to arteriosclerosis or hypertension. ANGIOCARDIOGRAPHY affords an accurate delineation of aortic form and contour during life; it allows measurement of aortic length and diameter. By means of measurements made upon angiocardiograms, it has been possible to determine the range in caliber of the normal and diseased aorta. In 1949, the results of measurement of the caliber of the normal thoracic aorta at four anatomically fixed points-midascending, transverse, descending and diaphragmatic-were reported.' Measurement of 100 normal aortas (including those with arteriosclerosis) indicated that the caliber (for all ages) of the midascending aorta ranged between 16 and 38 and averaged 28.6 mm. In a study of 51 patients with syphilitic aortitis,2 the range for the same point of measurement was from 38 to 70 mm. and the average caliber was 45.4 mm.