title: Compression of the Celiac Artery by the Median Arcuate Ligament: Multidetector Computed Tomography Findings and Characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of the celiac artery stenosis caused by median arcuate ligament (MAL) compression and its multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) characteristics were evaluated in patients who underwent abdominal MDCT procedures, retrospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 1121 patients who had abdominal MDCT with arterial phase or MDCT angiography of the abdominal aorta for various indications were analyzed for celiac artery compression by the MAL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty (ie, 4.6%) patients showed typical MDCT features of MAL compression. Focal narrowing of the proximal celiac artery, a characteristic hooked appearance of the narrowed segment without calcification and atherosclerotic changes were diagnostic. Poststenotic dilatation was detected in 22 (44%) patients with MAL compression. The ratio of the stenosis of the celiac artery was between 35%-50% in 15 patients and 51%-80% in 35 patients. The gastroduodenal artery diameter of these patients was not significantly different from the asymptomatic control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MALS is an uncommon entity but it should be kept in mind in the presence of unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms. MDCT is a minimally invasive and plays a dominant role in the diagnosis of MAL compression especially with reformatted and 3-D reconstructed images.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Medipol University, Department of Radiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ozdilbaskan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ozdil
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baskan
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Medipol University, Department of Radiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Medipol University, Department of Radiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Zeynep
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Gungoren
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Medipol University, Department of Radiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Abdominal; Aorta; Celiac artery; Median arcuate ligament; Median arcuate ligament syndrome; Multidetector computed tomography