title: Vertical distance between umbilicus to aortic bifurcation on coronal view in Korean women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the vertical distance between umbilicus to aortic bifurcation on coronal view in Korean women and their relation with body mass index (BMI) and woman's age.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 257 women who visited emergency center at university-based hospital from January to December 2011. All women underwent abdomino-pelvic computerized tomography (CT) due to various symptoms in a supine position. By using the electronic coronal CT images, the vertical distance between umbilicus and aortic bifurcation was measured. If aortic bifurcation was located below umbilicus, the distance was expressed as minus value (i.e., caudal to umbilicus). Age of woman, body weight, height and calculated BMI (kg/m(2)) were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aortic bifurcation was located caudal to umbilicus in 52.9% and cephalad to umbilicus in 37.4%. The vertical distance had a negative relationship with BMI (r=.0.180, P=0.004), as well as woman's age (r=-0.382, P<0.001). However, a multivariate analysis revealed that the vertical distance had a significant negative relationship with woman's age (P<0.001) but not with BMI (P=0.510). An equation could be drawn to estimate the vertical distance by using woman's age and BMI: vertical distance (mm)=12.6-0.3×(age)-0.2×(BMI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vertical distance from umbilicus to aortic bifurcation on coronal view showed a significant inverse correlation with woman's age, however, the distances varied widely. Most older or obese Korean women had aortic bifurcation caudal to umbilicus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo Rang
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Yeong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Aortic bifurcation; Body mass index; Computerized tomography; Umbilicus