Confirmation of the posterior gastric artery using multi-detector row computed tomography.
BACKGROUND
The blood supply of the stomach is well characterized. Although the posterior gastric artery (PGA) is the second most important artery supplying the upper third of the stomach, the main features and clinical importance of the PGA have not been established. The aim of this study was to use multi-detector row computed tomography (MD-CT) to investigate the features of the PGA with respect to its incidence, location and size, and to correlate the findings with clinical practice.


METHODS
In August 2004, 50 preoperative patients (33 men and 17 women) were evaluated prospectively by MD-CT. Informed consent for the present study was accepted at Kochi Medical School. The length of the PGA, from the root of the splenic artery, and the internal diameter of the PGA were examined. Correlations between body mass index (BMI) and the observed features of the PGA were investigated.


RESULTS
The PGA was recognized in all patients. In 49 (98%) patients, the PGA branched from the splenic artery. In 1 (2%) patient, the PGA originated from the root of the celiac trunk. The PGA was discernible for a length of 4.2-14.3 cm (mean, 9.1 cm) from the root of the splenic artery, and the internal diameter of the PGA was 0.5-2.1 mm (mean, 1.0 mm). BMI did not correlate with PGA length or internal diameter.


CONCLUSIONS
Our current study suggested that the anatomical and clinical features of the PGA can be shown by clinical methods, and that these features are useful in planning surgical treatment.
Okabayashi
Takehiro
T
Department of Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu-Okocho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan.
Kobayashi
Michiya
M
Morishita
Satoshi
S
Sugimoto
Takeki
T
Akimori
Toyokazu
T
Namikawa
Tsutomu
T
Okamoto
Ken
K
Hokimoto
Norihiro
N
Araki
Keijiro
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed