title: Celiomesenteric and hepatosplenomesenteric trunks: characterization of two rare vascular anomalies with CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this retrospective investigation is to characterize and illustrate the appearances of celiomesenteric trunk (CMT) and hepatosplenomesenteric trunk (HSMT) using CT with three-dimensional volume-rendering with attention to the proximal branching patterns. We also correlate our results with an embryologic model and assess the accuracy of radiologists in recognizing these entities.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT studies on 36 adult subjects with CMT and 10 with HSMT were analyzed to determine the proximal branching patterns and lengths of the common vascular trunks. The official reports in appropriately selected cases were reviewed to ascertain if the interpreting radiologists recognized the anomalies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two types of CMT were found. In 29 of 36 cases (81%), the CMT bifurcated into the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery (Type A CMT), while in 7 cases the left gastric artery (LGA) arose from the CMT proximal to the hepatosplenic trunk and superior mesenteric artery (Type B CMT). Type A trunks (mean length = 10.4 mm) were significantly shorter (p = 0.007) than Type B trunks (mean length = 17.8 mm). Short common trunks (less than 1.0 cm) were only seen with Type A CMT. Branching patterns in all 10 cases of HSMT were identical with no short common trunks. The CMT was not mentioned in the radiology reports in 88% of the cases assessed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The location of the LGA origin distinguishes the two variants of CMT and differentiates CMT from HSMT. These anomalies are easily overlooked during evaluation of routine clinical cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, University Hospital, 150 Bergen St., UH C-320, Newark, NJ, 07103-2406, USA, maldjipd@njms.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Pierre D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Maldjian
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chorney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult