Variant Anatomy and Morphometric Characteristics of the Celiac Trunk and its Branches According to Multislice Computed Tomography

Abstract

Two classifications are currently most commonly used to classify branching variations of the celiac trunk (CT): N. Michels (1955) and R. Uflacker (1997). Many researchers note the imperfection of classifications and make additions to each of them. The aim is to determine the anatomical variants of the branching of the CT, and to perform a morphometry of it’s main branches. Material and methods. A sample of 700 MSCT angiograms of the abdominal aorta was analyzed. The study examined angiograms of 602 men and 98 women. Visualization of the vessels of the CT and measurement of the diameter of the arteries was carried out using digital computer programs of the personal station of the radiologist «Syngo.via». Results. The most common type of CT (77,9% observations), according to the classification of N. Michels, was type I, when the common hepatic artery (CHA) originated from the CT. The frequency of other variants was 22,1%. According to R. Uflacker, the most common variant (90,3% cases) was type I, corresponding to the typical anatomy of the CT, with the origin of the splenic, common hepatic and left gastric arteries. In addition to the main variants of the arterial basin of the liver and types of branching of the CT, we noted additional arteries that were not included in both classifications. In 48 cases, such vessels as the left inferior phrenic artery (44 observations / 91,7%), two inferior phrenic arteries (2IPA) (3 observations / 6,3%), and the right hepatic artery (RHA) (1 observation / 2,1%) were identified as originated from the CT. Conclusion. In the course of our study, we detected variants of CT that were not included in any of the most commonly used classifications: the RHA and 2IPA which ramified from CT. Three morphometric parameters of the CT: its length, diameter, and diameter of common hepatic artery had a significant correlation with gender. We consider that the data obtained on the variant anatomy of the CT will make additions to the current classifications in order to detail and objectify variations of the celiac-mesenteric basin arteries.