2004 Volume 18 Issue 5 Pages 631-636
Because it has been difficult to make accurate diagnosis of aortic invasion in lung tumors, we have performed intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS) to obtain more accurate diagnosis of aortic invasion, in 11 patients with lung cancers suspected of invasion to the aorta. No complications associated with IVUS were found in this series. Eight of 11 cases were treated by surgery. In one case the tumor bordered on the aortic arch (AP window) and we could not obtain sufficient imaging to evaluate invasion. Three patients were diagnosed as having aortic invasion by IVUS, and one was followed by operation, confirming invasion by the tumor. In the other 7 cases no invasion was detected by IVUS, and all were found to be without invasion at surgery. The accuracy of IVUS for aortic invasion was 100%, while CT and MRI rates were 29% and 17%, respectively. We concluded that IVUS may be a useful and safe method for making diagnosis of invasion to the aorta.
