MSCT Analysis of the Length of Left Main Coronary Artery: Its Relation to Gender, Age, Diameter and Branching Pattern of Left Main Coronary Artery, and Coronary Dominance

Abstract

Purpose This study using multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) aimed to analyse and correlate the length of the left main stem with potentially important clinical parameters that may influence treatment. Materials and Methods 1500 patients (851 men, 649 women; mean age 57.38 ± 11.03 [SD] years; age range: 5–85 years) who underwent the MSCT scans from September 2020 to March 2022 were retrospectively included. Using the syngo.via post-processing workstation, the data was used to generate 3D simulations of a coronary tree. The reconstructed images were then interpreted to assess the morphological features and variants of the coronary arteries. Means ± standard deviations and the percentages were calculated. Chi-square and Pearson correlation statistical data were also reported. Results We found a medium LMCA in 1206 (80.4%) cases, a long LMCA in 133 (8.9%) cases, and in 161 (10.7%) cases a short LMCA was observed. The average diameter of LMCA at its midpoint was 4.69 ± 0.74 mm. The most frequent type of division of LMCA was bifurcation in 1076 (71.7%) cases; in 424 (28.3%) of cases, the LMCA was divided into three or more branches. The dominance was right in 1339 (89.3%), left in 78 (5.2%), and co-dominant in 83(5.5%) cases. There was a positive correlation between the length and branching patterns of LMCA, χ2 = 113.993, P = 0.000 (＜0.05). Other variables like sex, age, diameter of LMCA, and coronary dominance did not show any significant correlation. Conclusion There is an association between the length of the left main stem and the branching characteristics of the left main stem which may be essential for the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery patients.