Variations in the Branching Pattern of Coeliac Trunk: A Cadaveric Case Series

Abstract

During routine cadaveric dissection for students, the authors found variations in three cadavers. A male cadaver of approximately 70 years of age showed a unique branch communicating the coeliac trunk with the Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA). The right and left hepatic arteries gave smaller branches before entering into liver. In another male cadaver of approximately 60 years of age, the left hepatic artery was arising from the left gastric artery. The common hepatic artery gave rise to right gastric artery and gastroduodenal artery, after which it continued as right hepatic artery proper. This gave rise to cystic artery. The present series also observed quadrifurcation of coeliac trunk in a male cadaver of 70 years of age. It gave off four branches namely, splenic artery, left gastric artery, right hepatic artery and left hepatic artery. The gastroduodenal artery was arising from the left hepatic artery. The variations in the branching pattern of coeliac trunk is important for the surgeons during gastric surgeries, liver transplantation, pancreatic and gall bladder surgeries. Radiologists should be aware of such variations during reporting of Computed Tomography (CT) angiograms.

Keywords

• angiography
• communicating
• hepatic
• quadrifurcation
• segmental
• tripod