Novel anatomic variation: heptafurcation of the celiac trunk

Area of Science:

• Vascular anatomy
• Medical imaging
• Radiology

Background:

• Anatomical variations of the celiac trunk (CT) are uncommon.
• Knowledge of these variations is vital for surgical and interventional procedures.
• Computed tomography (CT) is a key imaging modality for identifying vascular anomalies.

Observation:

• A retrospective CT study identified significant arterial variants in a 54-year-old male patient.
• The patient presented with a previously unreported heptafurcation of the celiac trunk.
• Bilateral double renal arteries were also noted during the evaluation.

Findings:

• The heptafurcated celiac trunk exhibited seven distinct branches: left and right inferior phrenic arteries, splenic artery, left gastric artery, common hepatic artery (with its own branches), replaced right hepatic artery, and dorsal pancreatic artery.
• The common hepatic artery further bifurcated into the proper hepatic artery (left hepatic) and the gastroduodenal artery.
• This specific configuration of celiac trunk branching has not been previously documented in existing literature.

Implications:

• The identification of such rare arterial variants, like celiac trunk heptafurcation, is critical for preventing intraoperative complications.
• Accurate pre-procedural documentation of these vascular anomalies enhances patient safety during surgeries and interventional radiology.
• This case highlights the importance of detailed radiological assessment for unexpected anatomical variations.