Anatomical variations of peripancreatic veins and their intrapancreatic tributaries: multidetector-row CT scanning.
BACKGROUND
To date the anatomy of the intrapancreatic and peripancreatic veins using multidetector-row CT (MDCT) was not assessed. The object of this study is to establish 3D CT anatomy of these veins.


METHODS
A total of 100 consecutive patients who underwent abdominal triple-phase CT using 16-detector MDCT were retrospectively reviewed. The anatomical variations of the peripancreatic and intrapancreatic veins were assessed.


RESULTS
Among the 100 cases, 42 cases (42%) had a single posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein crossing the ventral side of the common bile duct, while 30 cases (30%) had an uncinate vein running upward behind the medial side of the pancreatic. In the pancreatic head and body/tail area, there were many small veins that directly entered the superior mesenteric or splenic vein. In 59 cases (59%), the centro-inferior pancreatic vein ran transversely along the inferior surface of the pancreatic body and drained the anterior or inferior parts of the pancreatic body, mainly into the splenic vein.


CONCLUSIONS
Many variations exist in the running patterns of intrapancreatic veins as well as peripancreatic veins. Recognition of abnormalities of intrapancreatic veins on CT in the light of normal CT anatomy may contribute to the interpretation of pathological conditions of the pancreas.
Hongo
Norio
N
Department of Radiology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Hasama-machi, Oita, Japan. hongou@med.oita-u.ac.jp
Mori
Hiromu
H
Matsumoto
Shunro
S
Okino
Yuriko
Y
Ueda
Shinya
S
Shuto
Rieko
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D003287:Contrast Media; D007479:Iopamidol