Anatomic Variations of the Hepatic Artery in 5625 Patients
Tae Won Choi, Jin Wook Chung, Hyo‐Cheol Kim, Myungsu Lee, Jin Woo Choi, Hwan Jun Jae, Saebeom Hur
Abstract
PURPOSE: To analyze the origin and anatomic course of the hepatic arteries by using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and multidetector CT in a large study sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 5625 patients who underwent liver CT and chemoembolization between January 2005 and December 2018 (mean age, 60 years ± 11 [range, 11-99 years]; 4464 males). The CT and DSA images were reviewed to evaluate the visceral arterial anatomy for variations in the celiac axis and hepatic arteries. Aberrant right hepatic arteries (aRHAs) and aberrant left hepatic arteries (aLHAs) were defined on the basis of their origin and anatomic course. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the association between aRHAs and aLHAs and the association between variations in the hepatic artery and celiac axis. RESULTS: < .001). There was no association between the hepatic arterial variations and celiac axis variations. A hypothetical anatomic model summarizing the observed variations was created. CONCLUSION: See also commentary by Sutphin and Kalva in this issue.