Rare Anatomic Variation: The Hepatosplenomesentericophrenic Trunk

Abstract

The rare anatomic variants of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery include the hepatosplenic, hepatosplenomesenteric (HSMT), celiacomesenteric, hepatomesenteric and gastrosplenic trunks. We report a 72-year-old female patient whose computed tomography angiograms indicated a rare anatomic feature whereby the right inferior phrenic artery was inserted in the origin of an HSMT, thus modifying it into a hepatosplenomesentericophrenic trunk (HSMPT). Above the HSMPT, the insertion of the left inferior phrenic artery in the origin of the left gastric artery determined a left gastrophrenic trunk (GPT). Proper identification of this type of rare anatomic variant is of utmost importance prior to different surgical procedures. For example, an HSMT origin of the right inferior phrenic artery is surgically relevant if this artery is an extrinsic pedicle of a hepatocellular carcinoma and is used for embolization of the tumor.