Unilateral variations of inferior phrenic and suprarenal arteries: A case study with commentary on its clinical importance

Abstract

Background: Becoming acquainted with the variants of the inferior phrenic artery is crucial for surgeries done for compression syndrome of the coeliac trunk. Awareness of the arterial variations of the suprarenal gland is important while performing surgical and radiological interventions of this gland and its surrounding structures. Materials and methods: The present report mentions the unilateral variations of the inferior phrenic artery and suprarenal arteries in a middle-aged male cadaver, noticed during the routine dissection done for undergraduate teaching. Main findings: It was observed that the right inferior phrenic artery instead of, originating from the lateral aspect of the abdominal aorta arose from, the coeliac trunk as its first branch. The right middle suprarenal artery was absent. The right inferior suprarenal artery arose as four branches, of which two were seen branching from the right renal artery, whereas the other two branched out from the right testicular artery. Interestingly, one branch of the inferior suprarenal artery that arose from the right testicular artery formed a loop around the right renal vein, before supplying the suprarenal gland. Conclusion: Prior knowledge of the aforementioned variations may be useful during selective angiography of the suprarenal gland done for the diagnosis of adrenal hyperplasia, small suprarenal adenoma, and suprarenal metastasis from carcinoma lung.

Keywords

• Inferior phrenic artery
• Inferior suprarenal artery
• Middle suprarenal artery
• Testicular artery
• Suprarenal gland