[Evaluation of normal thoracic and abdominal aortic diameters through computerized tomography]

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Cardiovascular Anatomy
• Radiology

Background:

• Understanding normal aortic dimensions is crucial for diagnosing conditions like aneurysms.
• Previous studies have shown variations in aortic size, but comprehensive analysis across age and gender is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure and analyze the anteroposterior diameters of the thoracic and abdominal aortas in a healthy adult population.
• To identify factors influencing aortic dimensions, including age, gender, and body surface area.

Main Methods:

• Computed tomography (CT) scans of 350 patients without cardiovascular disease were analyzed.
• Measurements of thoracic and abdominal aorta diameters were taken.
• Data were stratified by gender and age groups to calculate mean diameters and ratios.

Main Results:

• Aortic diameters decrease from proximal to distal portions for both thoracic and abdominal segments.
• Aortic size positively correlates with age and body surface area.
• Men exhibit larger aortic diameters than age-matched women.
• Ratios of ascending to descending thoracic aorta vary by gender and age.
• Abdominal aorta diameter relations show complex dependencies on gender and age at specific measurement points.

Conclusions:

• Normal variations in aortic dimensions are influenced by age, gender, and body size.
• Specific segments of the abdominal aorta demonstrate distinct relationships with gender and age.
• These findings provide valuable reference data for clinical interpretation of aortic imaging.