Anatomical Variation of the Abdominal Aorta Single Branch Arteries Using Contrast-Enhanced Multi-Slice CT Scan

Abstract Background: The single-branch arteries of the abdominal aorta; celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and inferior mesenteric artery have been under continuous study by anat-omists, surgeons, and radiologists. With contrast-enhanced CT scans being one of the commonly used techniques for detailed study of their variants, for diagnostic and interventional purposes. Aim of Study: Thorough analysis of contrast enhanced CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis for variations in the single branch arteries of the abdominal aorta and correlating the obtained results with previous studies and classifications and finding possible clinical results implications. Patients and Methods: We studied 401 contrast-enhanced CT scans of patients at the Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, retrospectively, studying the level of origin and various branches of the celiac trunk, the superior mesenteric artery was studied as regards the aortome-senteric level of origin, angle, and distance, as well as Inferior mesenteric artery level of origin. Results: The celiac trunk was found to arise at the level of T 12 in 42.39%, with 77.7% of the study population follow-ing the normal pattern of celiac trifurcation, While the superior mesenteric was found to arise at the level of L1 in 67.3%, with aortomesenteric angle having a range=1 1°-126°, and the aortomesenteric distance having a range= 4-46mm, correlating those results to the proposed cut off values of angle 22°, a distance less than 6mm, as a predisposing factor for SMA syndrome was found inaccurate since the BMI of the patients was not put into consideration and it was proven as an impor-tant factor prior diagnosing the rare SMA syndrome. The inferior mesenteric artery was found to originate at L3 level in 93% of our study population. Conclusion: A precise study of the abdominal aorta single branch arteries before any interventional procedure and during radiological studies reporting is of utmost importance in clinical practice and surgical settings owing to the wide variations in the arterial branching system.