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Sex-Based Differences in Gastroduodenal Artery Morphometry
Morgan W Stewart1, Jenna M Watts2, Vincent J Schmidt3
1Surgery, Kansas City University, Joplin, USA.
Introduction:
The gastroduodenal artery (GDA) supplies the upper gastrointestinal tract, and variation in its geometry may influence endovascular access and hepatobiliary interventions. This study evaluated sex-based differences in the GDA branching angle and diameter using standardized morphometric analysis.
Methods:
This retrospective cadaveric morphometric study included 28 formalin-embalmed donors (12 males and 16 females) examined between 2024 and 2025. Inclusion criteria required an intact GDA and common hepatic artery suitable for analysis. Following targeted vessel dissection, perpendicular images were obtained with in-plane calibration and analyzed using ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). Branching angle and mid-segment diameter were measured independently by two blinded observers. Sex-based differences were assessed using independent-samples t-tests, applying Welch's correction when the assumption of homogeneity of variance was violated.
Results:
Twenty-eight donors (mean age 77 ± 8 years; 12 males and 16 females) were evaluated. Male donors demonstrated significantly smaller GDA branching angles than female donors (95.83° ± 23.79° vs. 119.51° ± 17.75°; p = 0.006) and significantly larger diameters (5.67 ± 2.57 mm vs. 3.17 ± 0.70 mm; p = 0.007).
Conclusion:
Sex-based differences were identified in GDA geometry, which may influence computed tomography (CT) angiography interpretation and interventional planning.
