Anatomical variation of celiac axis, superior mesenteric artery, and hepatic artery: Evaluation with multidetector computed tomography angiography

Abstract

Background:The celiac axis, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and hepatic artery are the most important branches of abdominal aorta due to their vascularization field. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of different anatomical variation of celiac axis, SMA, hepatic artery, and its branches with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography of upper abdomen arteries.Materials and Methods:MDCT of 607 kidney donor and traumatic patients that referred to MDCT unit at Al Zahra Hospital in Isfahan from 2012 to 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. We excluded patients with history of abdominal vascular surgery and hepatic or pancreatic surgery. Computed tomography images of the patient were obtained with 64-row MDCT scanner and anatomical variations were analyzed.Results:Three hundred and eighty-eight (63.9%) of the 607 patients had classic arterial anatomy and 219 (36.1%) patients had variant types. The most common type of variation was the origin of the right hepatic artery (RHA) from SMA (9.6%), and the next common variation was the origin of the left hepatic artery (LHA) from the left gastric artery (6.9%). Variations in the origin of the common hepatic artery (CHA) were seen in 16 (2.6%) patients. Buhler arc was identified in two patients. The RHA originated from the celiac axis in 11 (1.8%) patients and from the aorta in 8 (1.3%) patients. Trifurcation of CHA into gastroduodenal artery, RHA, and LHA was detected in 11 (1.8%) patients.Conclusion:The results of the present study showed that anatomical variation occurs in a high percentage of patients. Detection of these variations can guide surgical and radiological interventional planning.

Celiac trunk and common hepatic artery variations in children: an analysis with CT angiography

“…There was no significant difference between males and females in terms of CeT and CHA variations (35.3%, 35.9%, respectively). ry or replaced vessels [6,7]. The importance of CeT and CHA is regarded as their vascularisation which is crucial for interventional and surgical procedures like liver transplantation and surgical preoperative planning [8,15].…”

The Celiac Trunk and Its Anatomical Variations: A Cadaveric Study

“…Cadaver, imaging, and liver transplantation studies have reported celiac trunk trifurcation in 85.1%, 89.6%, and 95.4%, respectively [ 8 ]. In contrast, cadaveric studies by Chitra [ 9 ], Nelson et al [ 15 ], Mburu et al [ 16 ], and Farghadani [ 17 ] reported trifurcated celiac trunk prevalences of 40%, 60%, 61.8%, and 63.6%, respectively. In our study, the false tripod of the celiac trunk was present in 36.4% (51/140), which predominated over the true form of the celiac trunk (7.1%, 10/140).…”

Anatomical Variations of the Superior Mesenteric Artery and Its Clinical and Surgical Implications in Humans

“…In a study with 607 kidney donors and trauma patients, it was observed that 388 (63.9%) had a classic arterial pattern, whereas 219 (36.1%) presented some type of variation. Among the observed changes, one variation was more common than others, in which the SMA originated the right hepatic artery in 58 (9.6%) of the cases 2 .…”