Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Modified Octopus Technique for Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Published on: August 1, 2025
Bovine aortic arch: a novel association with thoracic aortic dilation
C D Malone1, T H Urbania, S E S Crook
1Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0628, USA. michael.hope@ucsf.edu
Aim:
To investigate whether there is a link between bovine arch and thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Materials And Methods:
Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of the thorax of 191 patients with dilated thoracic aortas and 391 consecutive, unselected patients as controls were retrospectively reviewed. Bovine arch was considered present if either a shared origin of the left common carotid and innominate arteries or an origin of the left common carotid from the innominate artery was identified. A chi-square test was used to evaluate the significance of differences between subgroups.
Results:
A trend towards increased prevalence of bovine arch was seen in patients with dilated aortas (26.2%) compared to controls (20.5%, p=0.12). The association was statistically significant in patients over 70 years old (31.9%, p=0.019) and when dilation involved the aortic arch (47.6%, p=0.003).
Conclusions:
An association between bovine arch and aortic dilation is seen in older patients, and when dilation involves the aortic arch. Bovine arch should be considered a potential risk factor for thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Related Concept Videos
Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Aneurysm I: Introduction
Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Thoracic Aorta
The Arch of Aorta
Encircling the heart, the coronary arteries form a ring-like structure before...
The Aorta
The average diameter of the aorta is approximately 2-3 cm, but the size can vary depending on the section of the aorta and the individual's age, sex, and body size. The aorta is...
