Arterial variants in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Surgery remains the only curative option for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Local tumor resectability depends on a number of factors, but most importantly, the relationship of the tumor to adjacent arterial structures. For example, surgery is rarely performed when the tumor involves the celiac axis or the superior mesenteric artery. Unexpected variant arterial anatomy or tumor involvement of aberrant arteries may complicate pancreatic surgery. The classic visceral arterial anatomy occurs in only 55%-60% of the population, with one or more variant vessels occurring in the remaining population. Knowledge of both variant and normal anatomy is essential for accurate preoperative planning. We describe here the arterial variant anatomy of the pancreas and its identification by multidetector CT imaging, with and without the aid of post-processed volume-rendered images.
Balachandran
Aparna
A
Diagnostic Radiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard Box 0057, Houston, TX 77030, USA. abalachandran@di.mdacc.tmc.edu
Darden
Daryle L
DL
Tamm
Eric P
EP
Faria
Silvana C
SC
Evans
Douglas B
DB
Charnsangavej
Chusilp
C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media