[Estimation of atherosclerotic lesions in the thoracic aorta by transesophageal echocardiography].

The thoracic aorta is one of the portions frequently involved with atherosclerotic lesions. We estimated atherosclerotic lesions in the thoracic aorta in consecutive 137 patients (59 +/- 10 years old) using transesophageal echocardiography. The study population consisted of 60 with coronary artery disease (CAD), 36 with hypertension (HT), 28 with hypercholesterolemia (HC, total cholesterol greater than or equal to 230 mg/dl), eight with dissecting aneurysm, nine with true aneurysm and two with aortitis syndrome. We used a single transverse scan-plane probe with ultrasound frequency of 5 MHz. We could obtain satisfactory echograms of whole thoracic aorta except upper portion of the ascending aorta. We defined atherosclerotic lesions as an increased echo-density of the intima, protruded plaque, ulceration or aneurysm. Atherosclerotic lesions were observed in 71 of 137 patients (52%). High incidence of the atherosclerotic lesions was seen in patients with HT (72%), HC (57%) and CAD (57%), whereas incidence of atherosclerotic lesions was low (15%) in patients without HT, HC, CAD or aortic aneurysm. Atherosclerotic lesions were observed more frequently in patients aged greater than or equal to 60 years (69% vs 34%, p less than 0.001). In patients with HT or HC, atherosclerotic lesions were frequently observed even in patients younger than 60 years old (HT: 58%, HC: 53%). We concluded that HT, HC and aging were important risk factors for the atherosclerotic process in the thoracic aorta, and transesophageal echocardiography was a useful approach for the detailed estimation of atherosclerotic lesions in the thoracic aorta.