Abstract
Background
The splenic artery, an essential component of abdominal vascular anatomy, exhibits significant variations with clinical implications in surgical and radiological procedures. The lack of a standardized classification system for these variations hinders comparative studies and surgical planning. This study introduces the IPALGEA classification system, based on computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings, to address this gap.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 302 patients who underwent CTA at a tertiary university hospital between August 2021 and January 2022. The study focused on the evaluation of splenic artery variations, including the origin, course, terminal branching patterns, and the relationship between the inferior polar artery and the left gastroepiploic artery. The IPALGEA classification was developed to standardize the reporting of these variations.
Results
The study highlighted a significant prevalence of splenic artery variations, with the most common pattern being a superior course relative to the pancreas. The IPALGEA classification effectively categorized these variations, emphasizing the relationship between the inferior polar artery and the left gastroepiploic artery. The findings revealed that the bifurcation distance of the celiac trunk varied significantly between genders and that the presence of an inferior polar artery correlated with a shorter hilus distance.
Conclusion
The IPALGEA classification offers a comprehensive and standardized approach to categorize splenic artery variations. This system enhances our understanding of abdominal vascular anatomy and has significant implications for surgical and radiological procedures, potentially reducing surgical complications and improving patient outcomes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alim A, Nurunnabi ASM, Mahbub S, Ahmed R, Ara S (2014) Cadaver Study on the Branching Pattern of the Splenic Artery in a Bangladeshi Population. Med Today 26(1):15–17. https://doi.org/10.3329/medtoday.v26i1.21305
Ashok KR (2010). Study of Origin Course and Branching Pattern of Splenic Artery with its Variations and Clinical Implications Doctoral Dissetation, Department of Anatomy, Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, India. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2848391929/abstract/22E38C61C274845PQ/1
Bhivate V, Suresh R, Kharate R (2014) Study of diameter, length, tortuosity of splenic artery and its branches with its clinical implications. J Res Med Dent Sci 2(4):22. https://doi.org/10.5455/jrmds.2014244
Casillas J, Levi JU, Quiroz AO, Ruiz-Cordero R, Garcia-Buitrago MT, Sleeman D (2016) Multidisciplinary Teaching Atlas of the Pancreas Springer. Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46745-9
Cortés JA, Gómez Pellico L (1988) Arterial segmentation in the spleen. Surg Radiol Anat. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02107906
Daisy Sahni A, Indar Jit B, Gupta CNM, Gupta DM (2003) Harjeet E (2003) Branches of the splenic artery and splenic arterial segments. Clin Anat 16(5):371–377. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.10172
Dilli Babu E, Khrab P (2013) Coeliac trunk variations:review with proposed new classification. Int J Anat Res 2013(03):165–170
Dilli Babu E, Kalyanasundaram S, Indiran V et al (2022) Newly proposed classification of celiac artery variations based on embryology and correlation with computed tomography angiography. Pol J Radiol 87(1):563–573. https://doi.org/10.5114/pjr.2022.120525
Gangadhara RP (2014) Study on Origin, Course, Branching Pattern and Morphometry of Splenic Artery and Its Branches Supplying the Spleen-a Cadaveric Study. Int J Cur Res Rev 18:16–23
Garcia-Porrero JA (1988) Arterial Segmentation and Subsegmentation in the Human Spleen. Cells Tiss Org 131(4):276–283. https://doi.org/10.1159/000146529
Ignjatovic D, Stimec B (2005) The basis for splenic segmental dearterialization: a post-mortem study. Surg Radiol Anat 27(1):15–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-004-0279-2
Jáuregui E (1999) Anatomy of the splenic artery. Rev Fac Cien Med Univ Nac Cordoba 56(1):21–41
Katritsis E, Parashos A (1982) Arterial Segmentation of the Human Spleen by Post-Mortem Angiograms and Corrosion-Casts. Angiology 33(11):720–727. https://doi.org/10.1177/000331978203301104
Kumar N, Patil J, Swamy RS, Guru A (2014) Atypical arterial supply to the spleen by polar branches of splenic artery and accessory splenic artery: a case report. J Clin Diagn Res 8(8):3–4. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2014/8582.4656
Machálek L, Houserková D (1996) A contribution to the vascular anatomy of the human spleen. Acta Univ Palacki Olomuc Fac Med 140:11–15
Madoff DC, Denys A, Wallace MJ et al (2005) Splenic Arterial Interventions: Anatomy, Indications, Technical Considerations, and Potential Complications. Radiographics 25(1):191–211
Manatakis DK, Piagkou M, Loukas M et al (2021) A systematic review of splenic artery variants based on cadaveric studies. Surg Radiol Anat 43(8):1337–1347. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02675-5
Maske SS, Kataria SK, Raichandani L, Dhankar R (2018) A Cross-Sectional Study of Anatomical Variations in the Splenic Artery Branches 3: 5- 15. www.apad.co.in/Maskeetal
Michels NA (1942) The variational anatomy of the spleen and splenic artery. Am J Anat. https://doi.org/10.1002/aja.1000700103
Mikhail Y, Kamel R, Nawar NN (1979) Observations on the mode of termination and parenchymal distribution of the splenic artery with evidence of splenic lobation and segmentation. J Anat 128(2):253–258
Nayak S (2006) Common celiaco-mesenterico-phrenic trunk and renal vascular variations. Saudi Med J 27(12):1894–1896
Satheesha Nayak B, Shetty SD, Sirasanagandla SR, Kumar N, SwamyRavindra S (2018) Concurrent Variations of Celiac and Superior Mesenteric Arteries. Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ) 16(64):345–347
Senthamizhselvi R, Manuel NSR, Sivaranjani K (2017) The study of inferior polar artery in adult human spleens. Int J Anat Res 5(42):4606–4610
Shashikala Ramachandra Londhe (2002) Study of vascular pattern in human spleen. Dissertation submitted to Shivaji University Kolhapur. 19(22):34–35
Silva LFA, Silveira LMA, Timbó PS, Pinheiro SR, Barros LV, Silva Filho AR (2011) Estudo morfométrico da divisão arterial do baço comparado ao estudo radiológico. Rev Col Bras Cir 38(3):181–185
Standring S (2020) Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice, 42nd edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 2020
Sow M, Dia A, Ouedraogo T (1991) Anatomic basis for conservative surgery of the spleen. Surg Radiol Anat. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01623878
Treutner KH, Klosterhalfen B, Winkeltau G, Moench S, Schumpelick V (1993) Vascular Anatomy of the Spleen: The Basis of Organ Preserving surgery. Clin Anat 1993(6):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.980060102
Vandamme JPJ, Bonte J (1986) Systematisation of the Arteries in the Splenic Hilus. Cells Tiss Org 125(4):217–224. https://doi.org/10.1159/000146166
Valenzuela-Fuenzalida JJ, Martínez-Hernández D, Pérez-Jiménez D et al (2023) (2023) Prevalence and Clinical Consideration of Anatomical Variants of the Splenic Artery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Appl Sci 13(6):3510. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063510
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
EB: conceptualization, data collection, manuscript draft-writing. AK: conceptualization, data analysis, methodology, manuscript draft-writing. AGA: supervision, manuscript reviewing-editing.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethics approval
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study protocol was approved by the university’s ethics committee (Approval Date: 16.03.2022, Approval No.146).
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Bilek, E., Keven, A. & Arslan, A.G. Comprehensive analysis of splenic artery variations using computed tomography angiography: development of the IPALGEA classification system. Surg Radiol Anat 46, 363–376 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03301-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03301-4