IJAR.2026.145
Type of Article: Original Research
Volume 14; Issue 2 (June 2026)
Page No.: 9539-9545
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2026.145
Positional and Morphometric Anatomy of the Thoracic Aorta of Melanoderms living in Togo: CT Angiographic Study of 53 Cases
Sogan Ananivi 1, Nabede Solim Carolle 2, Gbande Pihou 2, James Yaovi Edem 1, Kodjo H. Madzra Dzoka 1, Sibabi-Akpo K. Okassate 1, Augustin Agoda-Koussema 2.
1 Laboratory of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences/University of Lomé (Togo)
2 Radiology Department, Teaching hospital Sylvanus Olympio of Lomé (Togo)
Corresponding Author: Sogan Ananivi (MD, Surgeon, MSc, Assisted Professor in anatomy and organogenesis); E-mail: sopher2@hotmail.fr
ABSTRACT
Background/Aim: The nursing of surgical ailments of the thoracic aorta cannot be carried out without the knowledge of its anatomy. The advent of thoracic aortic surgery in Africa requires us to have local anatomical data on this artery. The aim of this work is to enrich the literature by studying the thoracic artery in melanoderms living in Togo.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective, single-center, descriptive, and analytical study over six months (July to December 2024) at Nadouvi Lawson-Body Hospital in Lomé, Togo. CT angiographic images from 53 patients were selected and analyzed. The parameters studied were: the morphology of the thoracic aorta, the locations of its origin and termination, the location of the most anterior point of the ascending aorta, the highest point of the aortic arch and then the metric data.
Results: The morphology of the thoracic aorta (TA) was type C in 37.7% (n=20), type B in 32.1% (n=17), and type D in 22.6% (n=12). Morphology varied according to age. Its origin projected at Th8 in 37.7% (n=20) and at Th7 in 22.6% (n=12); its termination was located at Th12 in 58.5% (n=31) and at L1 in 18.9% (n=10). The most anterior point of the ascending aorta was located at the level of the 2EICD, 3PSCD, and 2PSCD in 24.5% (n=13), 22.6% (n=12), and 15.1% (n=8), respectively. The distance from this point to the anterior chest wall was 23.0 ± 9.4 mm and decreased with age. The highest point of the aortic arch projected at Th3 in 52.8% (n = 28) and Th2 in 22.6% (n = 12). The medium diameter of the TA at the origin and termination was 31.4 ± 4.7 mm and 21.9 ± 2.8 mm, respectively. An increase in the various diameters was noted with age.
Conclusion: This study outlines the anatomical bases of certain known clinical concepts and positional variations. These concepts are useful for avoiding interpretation errors in thoracic aortic imaging and also in surgical treatment. It would be desirable to compare these results with those of a study of the thoracic aorta on anatomical subjects later on.
Keywords: Thoracic Aorta, Anatomy, Melanoderm CT Angiography, Lomé-Togo.
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