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Quantitative clinical anatomy of the pancreatic arteries studied by selective celiac angiography

Anatomie clinique quantitative des artères du pancréas étudiées par angiographie cœliaque sélective

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Summary

The angiographic visualization of the pancreatic arteries, their numerical variations, origins, course and anastomoses, as well as their mean diameter by age-group (20–40, 41–60, >60 years) have been quantitatively investigated by selective celiac angiography in 72 patients without pancreatic disease. Visualization of the various arteries was achieved in a high percentage of cases except for the inferior pancreaticoduodenal arches, due to undervaluation of this vessel by celiac angiography. Confirmation of the great variability of the origin and anastomoses of the dorsal and transverse pancreatic arteries was obtained and possible embryologic reasons and clinical implications of this fact are discussed. Furthermore, a high percentage of multiple (quadruple or more) pancreatica magna and caudae pancreatis arteries has been observed and a functional role of this peculiar arrangement is suggested, Finally, no statistically significant differences were found in the diameter of any artery due to increasing age probably reflecting maintained neural perivascular control of the pancreatic vessels in the elderly. Satisfactory sensitivity of the angiographic method has been found with respect to the evaluation of visualization and anastomoses of the pancreatic arteries in vivo.

Résumé

Une étude angiographique a permis d'étudier les variations du nombre, de l'origine, du trajet et des anastomoses des artères du pancréas ainsi que leur diamètre moyen en fonction des groupes d'âges (20–40, 40–60 et plus de 60 ans); cette étude quantitative a été effectuée par artériographie cœliaque sélective chez 72 patients ne présentant aucune lésion pancréatique. Les différentes artères du pancréas ont bien été visualisées dans la majorité des cas, excepté l'arcade pancréatico-duodénale inférieure qui est mal explorée par l'angiographie cœliaque. Ce travail confirme les grandes variations d'origine et d'anastomoses des artères pancréatiques transverse (artère pancréatique inférieure) et dorsale et permet de proposer des explications embryologiques et des applications cliniques. De plus, un pourcentage important d'artères multiples (4 ou plus) et d'artères de la queue du pancréas a été noté, permettant d'évoquer le rôle fonctionnel de cette distribution particulière. Enfin il n'a pas été trouvé de différence significative du diamètre des artères en fonction de l'âge, ce qui est probablement dû au maintien d'un contrôle nerveux périvasculaire réflexe des vaisseaux pancréatiques chez les sujets âgés. La méthode angiographique a une sensibilité satisfaisante qui permet une bonne visualisation des artères du pancréas et de leurs anastomoses in vivo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Anatomia Umana Normale, Universita' di Chieti, Bologna

    R. Toni, L. Favero & S. Mosca

  2. Istituto di Radiologia, Universita' di Chieti, Bologna

    S. Ricci & R. Roversi

  3. Istituto di Clinica Medica e Gastroenterologia, Universita' di Chieti, Bologna

    P. Vezzadini

Authors
  1. R. Toni
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  2. L. Favero
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  3. S. Mosca
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  4. S. Ricci
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  5. R. Roversi
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  6. P. Vezzadini
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Toni, R., Favero, L., Mosca, S. et al. Quantitative clinical anatomy of the pancreatic arteries studied by selective celiac angiography. Surg Radiol Anat 10, 53–60 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02094071

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02094071

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