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Ultrasound scans to see and measure aneurysms in the lower chest aorta

Tests whether ultrasound can show and measure descending thoracic aorta aneurysms in adults.

Key facts

Who runs it
Imperial College London
Where
United Kingdom1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
Trial code
Registry title
TransThoracic Ultrasound for Descending Aortic Aneurysms
Status
Not yet recruiting
People taking part
60 people, planned
Started
7 Sept 2026
Expected to end
3 Apr 2028
Type of study
Observational, 2 groups
Record updated
7 August 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with a bulge (aneurysm) of the descending chest aorta, including Type B dissection, or who had TEVAR before. It also takes people with a healthy descending chest aorta as a comparison group. Everyone gets one extra ultrasound scan.

Age
18 years or older.
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
Case group: known aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta (DTAA), including Type B dissection, or past TEVAR. Control group: people with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or another blood vessel condition who come for routine ultrasound and have a confirmed healthy descending thoracic aorta.
Earlier treatment
People must have had a CT scan as part of their usual care. The case group can include people who had TEVAR (a stent repair of the aorta) before. People who had chest surgery before cannot join.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Previous chest surgery, or a body shape problem such as severe kyphosis, scoliosis, fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) or chest wall injury.
  • No previous imaging of the chest aorta.
  • Expected to live less than 2 years.
  • Pregnant women.
  • Too frail to travel to routine outpatient visits, or unable to lie flat on the back for the scan.

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 15 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Patients with diagnosed AAA or other vascular condition attending the vascular scanning department for routine ultrasound and confirmed healthy DTA (Control group)
  • Patients with known DTAA (including Type B dissection) or patients who had TEVAR previously (Case group)
  • Patients who have had CT as part of their standard of care
  • Patients able to tolerate the scan (Lying in supine position)
  • Adults aged 18 or over
  • Willing to provide consent

Who cannot take part

  • Previous thoracic surgery or body deformity (severe kyphosis, scoliosis, pleural effusion or chest wall trauma)
  • Patients without previous imaging of the thoracic aorta
  • Patient under 18 years of age
  • Life expectancy <2 years
  • Pregnant Women
  • Patients unwilling to provide consent or unable to comply with study requirements
  • Patients too frail to travel to routine outpatient appointments
  • Inability to attend the appointment due to time constraints or other commitments
  • Although rare, ultrasound contraindications as described in the scanning protocol are also exclusion criteria

This trial has no sites in United States.

It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The goal of this observational study is to assess the applicability of non-invasive ultrasound in aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta.

Read full original descriptionShow less

The main question it aims to answer is:

What is the feasibility of Ultrasound to visualise the Descending Thoracic Aorta, and can this imaging modality accurately measure the maximum size of aneurysms and residual sacs with acceptable reproducibility?

Participants are having their diagnosis confirmed or excluded by conventional imaging techniques (CT scans). Participants receive exactly the same standard of care regardless of their participation. The study offers an additional ultrasound scan, and the results will be compared with previous imaging.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • CONTROLS

    Patients with healthy DTA (30 patients)

  • CASES

    Patients with DTAA or TEVAR (30 patients)

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Feasibility, Accuracy and Reproducibility of Ultrasound in Aneurysms of the Descending Thoracic Aorta
Plain-language title
Ultrasound scans to see and measure aneurysms in the lower chest aortaGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
7 August 2026