title: Preoperative evaluation of venous anatomy in laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision for right colon cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the venous variations of the right colon using preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT), and to investigate its usefulness in laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision (CME) for right colon cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  3D-CT was performed prior to surgery in 81 consecutive patients with right colon cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was performed without conversion to open surgery in all cases (100 %). All 81 patients had a single ileocolic vein (ICV). The ICV flowed into the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) in 98 % of patients and the gastrocolic trunk (GCT) in 2 % of patients. The right colic vein (RCV) was absent in 6 % of patients. One RCV was present in 88 % of patients and two were present in 6 % of patients. The main RCV flowed into the GCT in 84 % of patients and the SMV in 10 % of patients. The superior RCV was present in 21 % of patients, and all cases flowed into the GCT. One middle colic vein (MCV) was present in 49 % of patients, two in 46 %, and three in 5 % of patients. The main MCV flowed into the SMV in 68 % of patients, GCT in 20 %, jejunal vein in 6 %, inferior mesenteric vein in 5 %, and the splenic vein in 1 % of patients. The GCT was present in 88 % of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the venous tributaries of the right colon are variable, preoperative 3D-CT is informative and helpful for surgeons performing laparoscopic CME for right colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogino
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takemasa
authors.forename: Genki
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horitsugi
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furuyashiki
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Taishi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Tsunekazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizushima
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Doki
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008646:Mesocolon / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed