The third time is the charm—Anastomosis between the celiac trunk and the left colic artery

✍ Scribed by Bojan V. Stimec; Sylvain Terraz; Jean H.D. Fasel

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 223 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0897-3806
• DOI: 10.1002/ca.21081

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

An atypical case of abdominal vasculature, found in a 58‐year‐old woman is presented. The multidetector computed tomography angiogram revealed a large tortuous anastomotic vessel between the stem of the celiac trunk and the left colic artery, supplying branches for the left colon and pancreatic body and tail. We propose a simple embryological explanation for the development of this aberrant artery—the longitudinal ventral anastomosis, which connects the precursors of principal visceral arteries in a loop‐like manner, loses its direct communication with the superior mesenteric artery but maintains its continuity above and below this level. This variation could pose a problem for radiological interpretation and affect surgical approaches to the aorta, left colon, and the pancreas. Clin. Anat. 24:258–261, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.