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Variant anatomy of celiac artery branches with direct aortic origin

Case contributed by Safwat Mohammad Almoghazy
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

A case of metastatic cancer breast on hormonal treatment and under follow-up.

Patient Data

Age: 70 years
Gender: Female

The left gastric, common hepatic and splenic arteries are directly originated from the aorta (normal variant).

Liver demonstrates innumerable tiny hypodensities, likely metastases, with no intrahepatic biliary radical dilatation.

Both adrenal glands are "bulky" with a tiny right sided nodule.

Cholelithiasis and unremarkable CT features of prominent CBD, portal vein, pancreas, spleen, kidneys (apart from the bilateral non-obstructive calculi) urinary bladder, pelvic gynecological organs, and visualized opacified bowel loops.

Mixed lytic and sclerotic bony lesions are seen in the visualized bone.

Case Discussion

Incidentally noted on this oncology follow-up CT is that the left gastric, common hepatic and splenic arteries directly arise from the aorta, which is a normal variant. 

The direct aortic origin of the celiac artery branches have the following incidences: 

  • left gastric artery: 2-3%
  • splenic artery: <1%
  • common hepatic artery: 2%

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