Presentation
Incidental findings in a patient recently diagnosed with right breast cancer, for CT staging.
Patient Data
There are two arteries to each kidney, and one vein to each kidney. Conventional ureteric anatomy. There is also a bovine arch.
Case Discussion
This case illustrates anatomical variation of the renal artery anatomy. The right kidney has, besides the main renal artery, a lower polar artery.
The left kidney has two about equal-sized renal arteries (upper and lower).
It is important to bear in mind that accessory renal arteries may also rarely arise from other arteries rather the aorta, such as the
- superior or inferior mesenteric artery
- celiac artery
- middle colic artery
- lumbar arteries
- gonadal arteries
- iliac arteries
- middle sacral arteries
- rarely from the contralateral renal artery
There is also a common origin of brachiocephalic trunk and left common carotid artery: this is called a bovine arch.