Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40593309›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Prevalence and risk factors of thoracic aortic dilatation detected incidentally in adjuvant radiotherapy planning CT scans in patients with breast cancer.

Aada Lattu, Petteri Kauhanen, Ari Mennander, Marja Hedman, Mona Laaksonen, Irina Rinta-Kiikka, Tanja Skyttä, Otso Arponen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Aortic response to cancer therapy: a narrative review of the radiotherapy paradox and clinical implications.The Egyptian heart journal : (EHJ) : official bulletin of the Egyptian Society of Cardiology · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Aada LattuDepartment of Radiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. aada.lattu@tuni.fi.
Petteri KauhanenClinical Radiology, Clinical Imaging Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Ari MennanderTampere University Heart Hospital, Cardiac Research and Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Marja HedmanClinical Radiology, Clinical Imaging Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Mona LaaksonenFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Irina Rinta-KiikkaDepartment of Radiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Tanja SkyttäFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Otso ArponenDepartment of Radiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. otso.arponen@tuni.fi.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Thoracic aortic dilatations (TADs) are commonly detected incidentally. A TAD may develop into aortic aneurysm and subsequently lead to aortic dissection, a highly lethal condition. Earlier detection of TADs could improve the surveillance and surgical management of aneurysms, potentially reducing aortic ruptures. The opportunistic use of thoracic sectional imaging studies performed for other indications, including breast radiation therapy planning, could be used to detect TADs. However, the frequency of TADs and the clinical risk factors for TADs in females undergoing adjuvant breast radiation therapy remain unknown. We retrospectively collected a consecutive cohort of 861 females with breast cancer who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy planning with computed tomography (CT). Using CT scans, we manually measured thoracic aortic dimensions on the hospital's dedicated picture archiving and communication software (PACS). Following the European Society of Cardiology guidelines, a segment of the aorta was considered dilated when its maximal diameter exceeded 40 mm. Additionally, we collected clinical patient data regarding known risk factors predisposing patients to TADs. Out of 861 patients, 80 (9.3%) had a TAD. Compared to those without any TADs, patients with at least one TAD were older (71.3 ± 9.7 years vs. 62.9 ± 11.7 years; P < .001) and more frequently displayed hypertension (62 [77.5%] vs. 354 [45.3%], P < .001), a history of a TIA or stroke (10 [12.5%] vs. 36 [4.6%], P = .007), and aortic valve insufficiency (10 [12.5%] vs. 51 [6.5%], P = .047). The opportunistic use of radiotherapy planning CT scans allows earlier TAD diagnosis, and a significantly large number of female patients (9.3%) had at least one abnormal thoracic aortic dimension. This finding could indicate a need to consider a systematic screening of TADs in patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy.

Indexed as

Aorta, ThoracicAortic Aneurysm, ThoracicBreast NeoplasmsTomography, X-Ray ComputedAgedDilatation, PathologicFemaleHumansIncidental FindingsMiddle AgedPrevalenceRadiotherapy, AdjuvantRadiotherapy Planning, Computer-AssistedRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsBreast cancerComputer tomographyIncidental findingRadiotherapyThoracic aortic dilatation

Identifiers

PMID40593309
PMCPMC12214734

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.