Clinical trial NCT03937193: Normal Range of Superior Mesenteric Artery in Young Chinese Population and Its Correlation With Retroperitoneal Adipose Tissue
Official title: Normal Range of Superior Mesenteric Artery on Computerized Tomography in Young Chinese Population and Its Correlation With Retroperitoneal Adipose Tissue
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Aortomesenteric Angle
Aortomesenteric Distance
Retroperitoneal Adipose Tissue
Keywords: aortomesenteric angle
aortomesenteric distance
retroperitoneal adipose tissue
computerized tomography
young Chinese population
Lead sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: North District Hospital
First posted: 2019-05-03
Enrollment: 510
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 10
Maximum age (years): 35
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Observational model: ECOLOGIC_OR_COMMUNITY
Time perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: The investigators will retrospectively recruit individuals from the local population who had undergone abdomen contrast CT scans within hospitals in the New Territories East Cluster (NTEC) of Hong Kong for both emergency and elective purposes in the year 2013-2019. Total sample will comprise two groups: (1) Non-SMAS Group (N=500); and (2) SMAS group (N=10).

Brief summary: In literature, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) angle, also named as aortomesenteric angle (AMA), varies greatly in both adult and children; while the aortomesenteric distance also ranges widely. Both AMA and AMD are influenced by retroperitoneal fat. Decrease of AMA and AMD may lead to the superior mesenteric artery syndrome(SMAS), which is a rare medical condition mainly presenting with duodenum obstruction. To our knowledge, normal range of AMA and AMD in local young Chinese population remain unclear; on the other hand, there have only a few studies exploring the relationship between them. This project proposes to establish the normal range of AMA and AMD in local young Chinese population, and to further investigate how the retroperitoneal adipose tissue correlates with AMA and AMD. The normal range obtained in this proposed study will provide more specific reference value to distinguish abnormal AMA and AMD, and to improve the diagnosis accuracy of SMAS in local population. Moreover, this study will provide deeper insight concerning the impact of retroperitoneal fat on AMA and AMD.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* With age range of 10-35 years old.
* Chinese ethnicity.
* With abdomen contrast CT.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any patients with diagnosis of SMAS will be excluded from the Non-SMAS group.
* Patients who had undergone more than one CT scan during the research period.
* Previous retroperitoneal, abdominal surgery.
* Conditions causing significant weight loss, e.g. anorexia nervosa, malabsorption.
* Presence of abdominal masses or pathology that will affect the anatomy of aorta- superior mesenteric artery and the retroperitoneal structures.
* Presence of severe scoliosis and/or history of spinal fixation that may increase incidence of SMA syndrome.
* Presence of free intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal fluid that may affect fat measurement, e.g. following trauma, or ascites.

Primary outcomes:
measure: aortomesenteric angle (AMA)
timeFrame: 2 years
measure: aortomesenteric distance (AMD)
timeFrame: 2 years
measure: visceral fat area
timeFrame: 2 years
measure: subcutaneous fat area
timeFrame: 2 years
measure: area ratio of visceral fat to subcutaneous fat
timeFrame: 2 years
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hong Kong
country: China
facility: Department of Radiology， North District Hospital
Study officials:
affiliation: Department of Radiology, North District Hospital, Hong Kong
name: Kai Ho Yam, MBChB
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: