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Normal appearance and size of the diaphragmatic crura in children: CT evaluation
1Department of Radiology, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University Medical Center, 702 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5200, USA.
Insights
Diaphragmatic crura appear larger and more nodular in younger children compared to older children. These findings are important for understanding normal pediatric CT imaging.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Anatomical Imaging
- Computed Tomography (CT)
Background:
- The crura of the diaphragm are key anatomical structures visualized on cross-sectional imaging.
- Understanding normal variations in their appearance and size is crucial for accurate interpretation of pediatric CT scans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the typical computed tomography (CT) appearance and dimensions of the diaphragmatic crura in pediatric patients.
- To provide reference data for normal crural morphology across different pediatric age groups.
Main Methods:
- Review of CT scans from 80 children aged 0-15 years, categorized into eight age groups.
- Measurement of the maximal transverse diameters of the right and left crura.
- Normalization of crural measurements against the transverse and anterior-posterior diameters of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12) and the transverse abdominal diameter at T12.
- Assessment of crural contour for smoothness or nodularity.
Main Results:
- Diaphragmatic crura appear relatively larger in smaller children compared to older children, when normalized for body size and T12 vertebral dimensions.
- Crural width demonstrated no significant increase with age.
- A higher prevalence of nodular crural appearance was observed in children under 5 years of age compared to older children.
Conclusions:
- The diaphragmatic crura exhibit a more nodular morphology and appear larger relative to body size in younger pediatric populations.
- These age-related differences in crural appearance are important considerations for the interpretation of pediatric CT examinations.
Purpose:
The objectives of the study were to document the normal CT appearance and size of the crura of the diaphragm in children.
Materials And Methods:
The CT scans of 80 children (0-15 years) were reviewed. The children were divided into eight age groups. The maximal transverse diameters of the right and left crura were measured. They were normalized by comparison with the transverse and anterior-posterior diameters of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12) and the transverse abdominal diameter at T12. The crura were also evaluated as to whether their contour was smooth or nodular.
Results:
The diaphragmatic crura of smaller children appear large, relative to body size and the diameters of the T12 vertebral body, compared with those in older children. Crural width does not increase significantly with age. Additionally, the crura were found to have a greater tendency to be nodular in appearance in children under the age of 5 years than in older children.
Conclusion:
Diaphragmatic crura are more nodular and larger relative to body size in younger children.