A Rare Variation of Coeliac Trunk Hexafurcation

TL;DR

A rare case of a coeliac trunk with six branches was found in a 62-year-old woman, highlighting the importance of detailed imaging in identifying unusual vascular structures.

Contribution

This paper reports a rare anatomical variation of the coeliac trunk hexafurcation and emphasizes the need for advanced imaging techniques.

Findings

A coeliac trunk hexafurcation was identified in a 62-year-old female via CT angiography.

The hexafurcation involved collateral branches including the left and right inferior phrenic arteries and left gastric artery.

The study highlights the importance of high-resolution imaging for identifying complex vascular anomalies.

Abstract

We report an incidental finding of a coeliac trunk (CeT) hexafurcation in a 62-year-old female during computed tomography angiography, where the trunk sequentially branches off the left and right inferior phrenic arteries (IPAs) and the left gastric artery (LGA) as collateral branches, before a terminal trifurcation into the common hepatic (CHA), splenic (SA), and dorsal pancreatic (DPA) arteries. While the CeT typically trifurcates, hexafurcation is exceedingly rare. This variation likely stems from the failure of standard regression of primitive splanchnic arteries. The aberrant branches (IPA and DPA) are involved in numerous surgical and interventional procedures. Therefore, this image emphasizes the necessity of high-resolution preoperative imaging and three-dimensional reconstruction to identify complex vascular morphologies

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