Assessment of Celiac Trunk and Hepatic Artery Dimensions among Hausa Population in Northern Nigeria

Anatomical variations in the celiac trunk and hepatic artery are critical for clinical practice, particularly in regions with unique population characteristics. This study investigated the relationship between celiac trunk, hepatic artery dimensions and their sex differences among Hausa subjects in Northern Nigeria. This cross-sectional study utilized three-dimensional multi-detector computerized tomography data from 93 subjects (48 males and 45 females) aged 25 years and above, collected from Department of Radiology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, Nigeria. Measurements of length and diameter of celiac trunk and hepatic artery were taken. The mean length of celiac trunk was 17.65 ± 5.00 mm, and that of common hepatic artery was 27.12 ± 2.85 mm. The mean diameter of the celiac trunk was 7.68 ± 1.88 mm, while that of proper hepatic artery was 5.5 ± 1.02 mm, with significant sex differences observed in all dimensions except for the diameter of the celiac trunk and diameter of proper hepatic. Males generally exhibited higher mean values than females across all parameters. The study found significant sexual dimorphism in the dimensions of the celiac trunk and hepatic artery, with most dimensions correlating positively with each other. These findings underscore the importance of considering sex differences in clinical assessments and interventions within this population.

Key Words: celiac trunk, hepatic artery, dimensions, arterial variants, Hausa