Anatomical Variations and Morphometry of Carotid Sinus: A Computed Tomography Study

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Anatomy
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Carotid sinus (CS) anatomy and morphometry are vital for carotid bifurcation and CS surgeries.
• Limited studies exist on CS anatomy despite its clinical importance.
• This study evaluates CS positional variants, morphometry, and correlations with age and BMI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the frequencies of carotid sinus positional variants.
• To assess carotid sinus morphometry (diameter and length).
• To correlate these parameters with age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study of 754 disease-free carotid arteries.
• Computed tomography angiography (CTA) used to determine CS positional variations (Types I-III) and morphometry.
• Statistical analysis explored associations with sex, age, and BMI; inter-rater agreement assessed using Cohen's Kappa.

Main Results:

• Type I CS observed in 87.67%, Type II in 9.02%, and Type III in 3.32%.
• Significant sex-based differences in mean diameter and length for Type I CS (p < 0.001).
• No significant correlation found between age or BMI and CS length or diameter. Inter-rater agreement was high (Kappa 0.77-0.99).

Conclusions:

• Carotid sinus length and diameter differ significantly between sexes in Type I variations.
• Age and BMI do not influence carotid sinus anatomy in healthy individuals.
• Understanding CS variant anatomy is clinically significant for surgical and physiological outcomes.