Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
Published on: January 13, 2023
Normative MDCT cross-sectional data estimation of superior vena cava and innominate vein in growing children using
Karuna M Das1, Tariq S Momenah, Rajvir Singh
1Department of Medical Imaging, Prince Salman Heart Center, King Fahad Medical City, PO Box 59049, Riyadh, 11512, Saudi Arabia, daskmoy@gmail.com.
Insights
Age is a strong predictor of superior vena cava (SVC) and innominate vein (INV) cross-sectional area in children. This study establishes normative area values using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for noninvasive assessment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Vascular Imaging
- Anatomy
Background:
- Establishing normative vascular dimensions in children is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
- Noninvasive imaging techniques are preferred for pediatric assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine normative cross-sectional areas of the superior vena cava (SVC) and left innominate vein (INV) in children using age as a predictor.
- To compare the correlation of measured cross-sectional area with diameter using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 73 pediatric patients undergoing MDCT.
- Manual estimation of SVC and INV cross-sectional areas.
- Regression analysis to correlate area with age and diameter.
Main Results:
- Age significantly predicts SVC, INV, and SVC-INV junction cross-sectional areas with high R(2) values (93%, 88%, 94% respectively).
- Cross-sectional area showed a stronger correlation with age (R(2)=68%) than diameter (R(2)=61%) for the SVC.
- MDCT is a valuable tool for creating normative area databases.
Conclusions:
- Age-based regression equations can predict normative SVC and INV cross-sectional areas in children.
- Cross-sectional area is a more reliable age-dependent metric than diameter for these vessels.
- MDCT facilitates the development of a normative cross-sectional area database for SVC-INV in pediatric patients without heart disease.
Abstract:
This retrospective study aimed to determine the superior vena cava (SVC) and left innominate vein (INV) normative cross-sectional area in children noninvasively using age as a predictor and also to compare the correlation of the area measured with the diameter on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Analysis of the SVC-INV cross-sectional area was performed for 73 consecutive patients. The cross-sectional area of the SVC-INV was manually estimated. A regression analysis was performed for the cross-sectional area and age separately, and regression equations were compared. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate significant differences in the area means according to age groups. Regression analysis showed that age can be a predictor for the area of the SVC (50.6 mm(2) + 1.01 × age), te INV (48.3 mm(2) + 0.93 × age), and the left SVC-INV junction (47.2 mm(2) + 0.92 × age), with respective R(2) values of 93, 88 and 94%. The comparative evaluation of the cross-sectional area and the diameter measurement of SVC showed that the cross-sectional area was more closely associated with the increasing age of the cohort (R(2) of 68 vs. 61%) than the measured diameter. For a cohort of patients without congenital or acquired heart disease, MDCT can be used as a complementary test for a normative cross-sectional normogram area database of SVC-INV using age as a predictor.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...