Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Clinical Anatomy, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Division of Radiodiagnosis, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Surg Radiol Anat. 2024 Dec;46(12):2049-2055. doi: 10.1007/s00276-024-03502-x. Epub 2024 Oct 21.
The anatomy of the abdominal aorta (AA) varies with age and sex; however, limited studies exist from South Africa. Given the increased incidence of endovascular treatment of the AA, reference values are relevant for interventionalists for improving the safety of endovascular procedures. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the lengths, diameters and tortuosity of the AA and their association with age and sex in a South African sample.
After ethical approval, 97 computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans from an adult sample (54 male and 43 female), mean age 48.5 ± 17.2 years were analysed. The aortic length was measured from the origin of the coeliac trunk to the bifurcation point of the AA. The lumen diameters of the aorta were measured at three landmarks. Tortuosity of the AA was quantified with the tortuosity index and its prevalence was determined.
The AA was longer in males and showed a significant weak positive correlation with age. The mean diameters of the AA were larger in males and had a significant strong positive correlation with age in both sexes (p < .001). There was a strong positive correlation between age and tortuosity in both sexes (p < .001). The prevalence of a tortuous c-shaped-curve phenotype was 8.2%, with a 7:1 male-to-female ratio.
The dimensions and tortuosity differed between sexes and varied significantly with age. These findings may contribute towards reference values in the South African setting, inform patient selection and complement decision-making of endovascular treatment strategies.
腹主动脉（AA）的解剖结构随年龄和性别而变化；然而，来自南非的相关研究有限。鉴于血管内治疗 AA 的发生率增加，参考值对于介入医生提高血管内手术的安全性具有重要意义。因此，本研究旨在确定南非样本中 AA 的长度、直径和迂曲程度及其与年龄和性别的关系。
在获得伦理批准后，对来自成年样本（54 名男性和 43 名女性）的 97 例计算机断层血管造影（CTA）扫描进行了分析，平均年龄为 48.5±17.2 岁。从腹腔干起源到 AA 分叉点测量主动脉长度。在三个标志处测量主动脉管腔直径。用迂曲指数定量评估 AA 的迂曲程度，并确定其患病率。
男性的 AA 较长，与年龄呈弱正相关。男女两性的 AA 平均直径均较大，且与年龄呈显著强正相关（p<.001）。男女两性的年龄与迂曲程度之间存在强正相关（p<.001）。在男女两性中，迂曲 C 形曲线表型的患病率为 8.2%，男女比例为 7:1。
男女之间的尺寸和迂曲程度存在差异，且随年龄显著变化。这些发现可能有助于南非人群的参考值，告知患者选择，并补充血管内治疗策略的决策。
