title: Posterior gastric artery in angiograms and its surgical importance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence and the clinical importance of the posterior gastric artery (PGA) have not been clarified. In Japan, as in the West, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the upper stomach has increased recently. The purpose of this study was to clarify the features of the posterior gastric artery by analyzing a large series of digital subtraction angiography, and to determine its clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and fourteen patients who underwent angiography between 1991 and 2001 at the Kochi Medical School were studied. The length from the root of the splenic artery and the internal diameter of PGA were investigated celiacographically. The correlation of the body mass index (BMI) and the features of PGA were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PGA was visualized in 175 patients (55.7%) celiacographically. PGA averaged 3.2-7.4cm (mean 5.4) in length from the root of the splenic artery and the size was 0.7-2.1mm (mean 1.4). The rate of depiction in patients with liver cirrhosis (73.2%) was significantly higher than that in those without (30.5%). No significant difference in length or size of PGA was seen by gender, age, or hepatitis viral infection. No correlation was found between the length or size of PGA and BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that the anatomical features of PGA can be visualized by clinical methods useful in planning surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okabayashi
authors.forename: Michiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Takeki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sucgimoto
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Kimio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Keijiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery