Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2014 Jan;57(1):44-49.

Vertical distance between umbilicus to aortic bifurcation on coronal view in Korean women

• Jeong JY
• Kim YR
• Kim JY
• Jee BC
• Kim SH

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/m2) 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)=12.6-0.3x(age)-0.2x(BMI).
CONCLUSION
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.

Keyword

Aortic bifurcation; Body mass index; Computerized tomography; Umbilicus

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Emergencies
Female
Humans
Multivariate Analysis
Retrospective Studies
Supine Position
Umbilicus*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Method to measure the vertical distance between the umbilicus and aortic bifurcation by using the electronic coronal computed tomography images. After marking the center of the umbilicus (A), consecutive images are tracking until aortic bifurcation appears (B), and then the distance from the extension line of umbilicus and aortic bifurcation is measured as unit of millimeter. If aortic bifurcation is located below umbilicus, the distance is expressed as minus value. Approximately 5 cm sized mature cystic teratoma is seen on right ovary in this woman, but this case is included because relatively small tumor within pelvis does not cause dislocation of umbilicus and/or aortic bifurcation.

• 

  Fig. 2 A linear regression line to show a negative correlation between vertical distance (umbilicus-to-aortic bifurcation) and woman's age (A) or body mass index (BMI) (B). The minus values indicate that aortic bifurcation located caudally to umbilicus.

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