Normal abdominal aorta diameter in infants, children and adolescents

Abstract

Background: The normal limits of arterial diameters must be known to diagnose pathologies such as dilatation, stenosis and hypoplasia. Thoracic aorta diameter in childhood has been measured in previous studies, but the number of studies in which normal aortic diameter is determined is very small. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the normal standard diameter of the aorta and iliac arteries in children according to gender and level.

Methods: Pediatric abdominal computed tomography carried out for various reasons was retrospectively re-evaluated between January 2016 and February 2017. Patients were classified according to age into six groups. Vessel diameter, age, gender and vertebra diameter were evaluated.

Results: Mean proximal aorta diameter was 8.84 mm for 12-36 months, 10.02 mm for 37-84 months, 12.32 mm for 85-132 months, 14.45 mm for 133-180 months, and 16.51 mm for 181-204 months. Mean distal aorta diameter was 6.67 mm for 12-36 months, 8.07 mm for 37-84 months, 10.79 mm for 85-132 months, 12.14 mm for 133-180 months, and 14.01 mm for 181-204 months. The lumen diameter of the abdominal aorta, both proximally and distally, correlated linearly with age as an independent predictor. Similarly, the lumen diameter of the right and left common iliac artery correlated linearly with age as an independent predictor. There was no statistically significant difference in vascular diameter according to gender in any age groups.

Conclusions: Optimal evaluation of aortic diameter is possible on computed tomography. Measurement outside the normal range is a sign of aneurysm or hypoplasia.

Keywords: abdominal aorta; diameter; tomography.