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Arterial variants in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

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Abstract

Surgery remains the only curative option for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Local tumor resectability depends on a number of factors, but most importantly, the relationship of the tumor to adjacent arterial structures. For example, surgery is rarely performed when the tumor involves the celiac axis or the superior mesenteric artery. Unexpected variant arterial anatomy or tumor involvement of aberrant arteries may complicate pancreatic surgery. The classic visceral arterial anatomy occurs in only 55%–60% of the population, with one or more variant vessels occurring in the remaining population. Knowledge of both variant and normal anatomy is essential for accurate preoperative planning. We describe here the arterial variant anatomy of the pancreas and its identification by multidetector CT imaging, with and without the aid of post-processed volume-rendered images.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diagnostic Radiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard Box 0057, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Aparna Balachandran, Eric P. Tamm, Silvana C. Faria & Chusilp Charnsangavej

  2. Radiologic Associates of Fredericksburg, 4718 Carr Drive, Fredericksburg, VA, 22408, USA

    Daryle L. Darden

  3. Surgical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard Box 0444, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Douglas B. Evans

Authors
  1. Aparna Balachandran
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  2. Daryle L. Darden
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  3. Eric P. Tamm
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  4. Silvana C. Faria
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  5. Douglas B. Evans
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  6. Chusilp Charnsangavej
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Correspondence to Aparna Balachandran.

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Balachandran, A., Darden, D.L., Tamm, E.P. et al. Arterial variants in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Abdom Imaging 33, 214–221 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-007-9235-z

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