Investigation of relationship between neck anteroposterior-transvers diameters and trachea anteroposterior-transvers diameters based on CT scans

Aims: The tracheal diameter may be influenced by external anatomical characteristics, and accurate estimation of airway dimensions is important for procedural planning. This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical relationship between neck and tracheal dimensions using radiological measurements in the anteroposterior (AP) and transverse (TR) planes.Methods: A total of 180 adult patients were retrospectively included in the study. The AP and TR diameters of the first tracheal ring and the AP and TR diameters of the neck at the level of the cricoid cartilage were measured on computed tomography (CT) images. Body mass index was calculated from recorded height and weight data. Correlation analyses and multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index were performed.Results: Significant sex-related differences were observed in tracheal AP and TR diameters (trachea AP: 19.97±2.10 mm vs. 16.32±1.87 mm; trachea TR: 20.00±1.67 mm vs. 16.14±1.69 mm; both p