A detailed look in radioanatomical aspects of ligamentum arteriosum calcification in pediatric population

Abstract

After birth, ductus arteriosus forms ligamentum arteriosum and sometimes can be calcified. Ligamentum arteriosum calcification can be seen as subtle-punctate or coarse-linear between pulmonary artery and the aorta in the non-contrast computed tomography (CT) images, and between the pulmonary conus and the aortic knob in the chest radiography. In this study, we aim to estimate the prevalence of ligamentum arteriosum calcification on non-contrast CT and chest radiography in a pediatric population. Patients aged 0-18 years, who underwent non- contrast CT and chest radiography at Department of Radiology between March 1, 2020 and October 31, 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. It was examined whether there was ligamentum arteriosum calcification in non-contrast CT and chest radiography. If there is calcification, it was recommended as subtle-punctate or coarse-linear, and information was documented by grouping the patients’ age. If ligamentum arteriosum calcification was present, it was divided morphologically into two groups (subtle-punctate and coarse-linear) and classified according to the age groups. The research population consisted of 1003 patients. Non-contrast CT revealed calcification in 25.5% of patients (n=256). 11.3% of patients had subtle-punctate calcification, and 14.3% had coarse-linear calcification. Radiography had a 1.7% (n:17) detection rate for calcification. Ligamentum arteriosum calcification is a common finding in all age groups in the pediatric population. When reporting pediatric CT studies, radiologists should be able to distinguish ligamentum arteriosum calcification from other pathological and anatomical conditions and accept it as a normal finding in order to avoid unnecessary further investigations.