Survey of anatomical characteristics of the internal thoracic artery branches through multidetector row computed tomography

Objective: To describe the anatomical features of the perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery through Multidetector row computed tomography. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional and prospective descriptive study  on 100 healthy individuals whose perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery from intercostal space I to intercostal space VI were examined at the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Military Hospital 103, from January 2023 to December 2024. Result: Distance from the point of skin penetration to the sternal edge on the same side as the penetrating branch of the internal thoracic artery: The average distances between the right and left first intercostal space are 0.42 ± 0.16cm and 0.42 ± 0.18cm, respectively; between the right and left second intercostal space are 0.76 ± 0.37cm and 0.74 ± 0.38cm, respectively; between the right and left third intercostal space are 0.68 ± 0.39cm and 0.75 ± 0.39cm, respectively; between the right and left fourth intercostal space are 0.95 ± 0.62cm and 1.13 ± 0.6cm, respectively; and between the right and left fifth intercostal space are 2.12 ± 1.49cm and 2.42 ± 1.31cm, respectively. Length of the perforating branch of the internal thoracic artery to the point of skin penetration: The average length of the perforating branch of the internal thoracic artery to the point of skin penetration at the right and left intercostal space I is: 7.86 ± 2.47 and 7.94 ± 2.55cm; at the right and left intercostal space II is: 10.08 ± 3.07 and 10.07 ± 2.94cm; at the right and left intercostal space III is: 8.8 ± 2.82 and 9.8 ± 3.13cm; at the right and left intercostal space IV is: 8.38 ± 2.56 and 8.24 ± 2.1cm; at the right and left intercostal space V is: 7.19 ± 1.52 and 7.26 ± 1.82cm. Distance from origin to lateral sternal edge: The average distance from origin to lateral sternal edge at the right and left intercostal space I is: 0.43 ± 0.21 and 0.42 ± 0.19cm; at the right and left intercostal space II is: 0.63 ± 0.4 and 0.75 ± 0.45cm; at the right and left intercostal space III is: 0.54 ± 0.52 and 0.89 ± 0.81cm; at the right and left intercostal space IV is: 0.43 ± 0.21 and 1.07 ± 0.97cm; at the right and left intercostal space V is: 1.34 ± 1.11 and 1.81 ± 2.06cm. Diameter of the perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery: The average diameter of the perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery in the first intercostal space on the right and left is: 1.43 ± 1.22 and 1.56 ± 1.44mm; in the second intercostal space on the right and left is: 1.44 ± 1.59 and 1.83 ± 1.62mm; in the third intercostal space on the right and left is: 1.27±1.12 and 2.19 ± 1.29mm; in the fourth intercostal space on the right and left is: 1.17 ± 0.84 and 1.03 ± 0.57mm; in the fifth intercostal space on the right and left is: 0.89 ± 0.68 and 0.52 ± 0.8mm. Origin diameter of the perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery: The average origin diameter of the perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery in the first intercostal space on the right and left is: 1.98 ± 1.78 and 2 ± 1.64mm; in the second intercostal space on the right and left is: 1.67 ± 1.59 and 1.72 ± 1.63mm; in the third intercostal space on the right and left is: 1.45 ± 1.49 and 1.56 ± 1.45; in the fourth intercostal space on the right and left is: 0.73 ± 1.39 and 1.45 ± 1.4 mm; in the fifth intercostal space on the right and left is: 0.59 ± 1.26 and 0.84 ± 1.4 mm. Conclusion: Number of perforating branches in rib spaces, distance from the point of skin penetration to the sternal edge on the same side as the penetrating branch of the internal thoracic artery, length of the perforating branch of the internal thoracic artery to the point of skin penetration, distance from origin to lateral sternal edge, diameter of the perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery, origin diameters of the perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery vary depending on their location.