Gender Differences in Anatomic Variations of the Sternum Assessed by Multidetector CT Scan

Abstract

Several anatomic variants can be recognized during imaging of the chest, some can be confused with pathology or have adverse consequences when attempting certain surgical procedures through the sternum. Aim: To assess sternal anatomic variations in adults and to evaluate gender differences in the frequency of these variants. Methods: Patient referred for chest CT scan were enrolled in the study. Analysis of the images was performed after post processing. Selected anatomic variations of the sternum were recorded. Analysis of the gender differences in the frequency of these variants was done. Results: The study included 817 patients with mean age of 48.5 ±16.32. Men represented 53.7% of the study population and women 46.3%. Most variants were detected in the xiphoid and the most frequent of these were xiphoid foramina. Total ossification of the xiphoid was seen in ventrally deviated xiphoid and xiphoid foramina were significantly higher in men than in women. Conclusion: The xiphoid process is the most likely segment of the sternum to have variations. There was no significant gender difference in the frequency of most sternal variants except xiphoid ossification, xiphoid foramina and elongated-ventrally deviated xiphoid.