Analysis of anatomical variations of the main arteries branching from the abdominal aorta, with 64-detector computed tomography
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
An Approach to Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Evaluation of the Abdominal Aorta
Published on: September 8, 2023
Olga Kornafel1, Bogusława Baran, Izabela Pawlikowska
1Student Scientific Group at the Department of General Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
Insights
Nearly half of patients exhibit variations in abdominal aorta arteries. Renal artery variations were most common, highlighting the importance of pre-operative imaging for surgical planning.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Vascular Anatomy
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Variations in abdominal organ vasculature necessitate thorough pre-operative evaluation of arterial anatomy.
- Understanding these anatomical variations is crucial for successful surgical interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of anatomical variations in arteries branching from the abdominal aorta.
- To compare these findings with existing literature.
Main Methods:
- Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of 201 patients (91 women, 110 men) was analyzed.
- A 64-detector CT scanner was used, with images acquired during the arterial phase.
- The study focused on identifying anomalies in the branches of the abdominal aorta.
Main Results:
- Anatomical variations were found in 43.8% of patients.
- Renal artery variations occurred in 41.3%, most commonly as additional renal arteries (32.3%).
- Celiac trunk anomalies were seen in 4.5%, and superior mesenteric artery variations in 2%.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of the population (43.8%) displays arterial variations originating from the abdominal aorta.
- Renal artery anomalies were more prevalent than those of the celiac trunk or superior mesenteric artery.
- 64-detector CTA is highly effective for detecting these arterial anomalies.
Background:
Great variability in the vasculature of the abdominal organs makes the pre-operative evaluation of arterial anatomical conditions extremely important and helpful. The aim of our study was to establish the prevalence of anatomical variations of the arteries branching from the abdominal aorta and to compare the results with the ones presented in the literature.
Material/Methods:
The material included computed tomography angiographies (CTA) of 201 patients (91 women and 110 men) performed between September 2007 and December 2008. The CTA examinations were conducted with a 64-detector CT scanner at the Department of Radiology of University Hospital in Wrocław. Images were obtained during the arterial phase and were analyzed for the presence of potential anomalies of the branches of the abdominal aorta.
Results:
In 88 patients (43.8%), there were anatomical variations of the arteries branching from the abdominal aorta. Variations of the renal arteries were observed in 83 (41.3%) patients, anomalies of the celiac trunk in 9 patients (4.5%), including variations of the superior mesenteric artery in 4 (2%) patients. No anatomical anomalies of the inferior mesenteric artery were shown in this study. The most frequent anomaly of the renal vasculature was the presence of at least one additional renal artery, observed in 65 (32.3%) patients. This concerned the inferior renal polar artery mainly - in 30 (14.9%) patients. Presence of bilateral additional renal arteries was visualized in 10% (20/201) of the cases. The most frequent anomalies of the celiac trunk were the celiacmesenteric trunk (in 3 patients - 1.5%) and the hepatosplenic trunk (in 3 patients - 1.5%). The celiac-mesenteric trunk was also the most frequent variation of the superior mesenteric artery in our material.
Conclusions:
A large part of population - 43.8% of our patients - demonstrated variations of arteries branching from the abdominal aorta. The anomalies were significantly more often found within the renal arteries than within the celiac trunk or the superior mesenteric artery. Sixty-four detector CTA reveals a high sensitivity in the detection of anomalies of the arteries branching from the abdominal aorta.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Abdominal Aorta
The celiac trunk, a singular artery, divides into the left gastric artery, which...
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:14The Aorta
The average diameter of the aorta is approximately 2-3 cm, but the size can vary depending on the section of the aorta and the individual's age, sex, and body size. The aorta is...
01:21Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:10Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...