Predicting Aortic Aneurysm with 98% Accuracy through Unstable 'Fluttering'
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Medical Xpress
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a physics-based metric called the "flutter instability parameter" (FIP) that can predict the likelihood of future aortic aneurysm with 98% accuracy. By measuring subtle "fluttering" in a patient's blood vessel using 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the researchers found that unstable flutter is highly predictive of abnormal growth and potential rupture. This metric could help physicians intervene and prescribe medications to high-risk patients to prevent dangerous swelling of the aorta. The research offers a new understanding of the physics underlying aortic aneurysms and could be transformative in predicting cardiac pathologies.