A New Arterial Variation Involving a Pentafurcated Coeliac Trunk

Abstract

We present a newly found variation of the coeliac trunk. The variation may have clinical implications during surgery and radiological investigations. Open abdominal dissection of an embalmed 65-year-old female cadaver, whose cause of death was metastatic breast carcinoma, was performed in the King's College London dissection laboratory. Standard, student issue cadaveric dissection equipment was used. A new variation of the coeliac trunk was observed. The variation was a pentafurcated coeliac trunk, with additional arterial variations. The left gastric artery, splenic artery, gastroduodenal artery, middle colic artery, and jejunoileal artery emerged directly from the coeliac trunk. The proper hepatic artery emerged directly from the superior mesenteric artery. The literature review did not reveal the combination of variations that we report. This case reports a new combination of arterial variations. It adds to the knowledge of surgeons and radiologists and highlights the importance of awareness of anatomical variations. Knowledge of anatomical variations may improve patient outcomes.