Aortic arch diameter in frontal chest radiographs of a normal Nigerian population.
BACKGROUND
The objective of our study was to establish age, sex, weight and height specific nomogram of radiographic aortic arch diameter in a normal adult Nigerian population.


METHODS
The aortic arch diameter of 303 normotensive males and females aged between 20 and 93 years were measured in normal posteroanterior chest radiographs.


RESULTS
The mean values for the 20-39, 40-59 and the > or = 60 year-old males were 5.3, 5.5 and 6.3 cm respectively while the corresponding values for females were 4.9, 5.3 and 5.9 cm. The aortic arch diameter increased progressively with age in both sexes and was larger in males than in females. It correlated better with body mass index than with weight, height or body surface area. The proportion of males and females below the age of sixty that had aortic arch diameter of > or = 6.0 cm ranged from 0.9 to 9.7%. For the > or = 60 year-old, the proportion was 30% for females and 70% for males.


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed that whereas radiographic aortic arch diameter seemed to be a good index of systemic hypertension for the under sixty it is not so for the > or = 60 year-old.
Obikili
E N
EN
Department of Radiology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
Okoye
I J
IJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors