title: Anatomical variations in the origins of the celiac axis and the superior mesenteric artery: MDCT angiographic findings and their probable embryological mechanisms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the spectrum and prevalence of anatomical variations in the origin of the celiac axis (CA), the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and their major branches by using multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective evaluation was carried out on 1,500 abdominal MDCT angiography images. The aortic origins of the CA, the SMA and their major branch patterns were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal aortic origins of CA and SMA were noted in 1,347 (89.8%) patients. Seven types of CA and SMA origin variants were identified in 153 (10.2%) patients. The three most common variations were hepatomesenteric trunk (67 patients, 4.47%), celiomesenteric trunk (CMT) (51 patients, 3.4%) and splenomesenteric trunk (18 patients, 1.2%). An evaluation of CMT was classified as long (34 patients, 66.7%) or short (17 patients, 33.3%) subtypes, compared with the length of the common trunk. Further CMT classification was based on the origin of the left gastric artery: subtype I, 26 patients (53.1%); subtype II, 5 patients (10.2%); subtype III, 15 patients (30.6%); subtype IV, 3 patients (6.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dislocation interruption, incomplete interruption and persistence of the longitudinal anastomosis could be the embryological mechanisms of the variant origins of the CA, the SMA and their major branches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Aortic origins of CA, SMA and their major branches were investigated. • Celiomesenteric trunk includes several different subtypes and configurations. • Probable embryological mechanisms of origin variants in these observed arteries were discussed. • Origin variants in these observed arteries have wide-ranging health implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China, ywhxl@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shui-gen
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult