August 16, 2025

Anatomical characteristics and variations of the abdominal aorta and its visceral branches on 128-slice computed to-mography in Vietnamese adults.

Key Points

Significant anatomical variation exists in the abdominal aorta and its visceral branches, emphasizing the need for personalized evaluation.
In a sample of 193 adults, classic branching patterns were present in 68% of celiac trunks and over 96% for the SMA and IMA.
Assessment used contrast-enhanced 128-slice computed tomography, yielding high-resolution vascular anatomy images and structural details.
Findings highlight the prevalence of uncommon variants in anatomy, which can influence surgical planning and interventions.

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the anatomical features and variations of the abdominal aorta and its major visceral branches - the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) - using 128-slice computed to-mography (CT) imaging. A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted on 193 adult Vietnamese patients who underwent contrast-enhanced 128-slice abdominal CT scans at Tam Anh General Hospital between December 2023 and December 2024. Origins, diameters, branching angles, and anatomical variants were recorded and an-alyzed using MIP and 3D VR reconstructions. Variations were classified using Uflack-er's (celiac trunk) and Kornafel's (SMA) systems. The most common origin levels were T12-L1 for the celiac trunk (33.7%), L1 for the SMA (36.3%), and L3 for the IMA (30.6%). Classical branching patterns were present in 68.0% for the celiac trunk, 96.3% for the SMA, and 97.4% for the IMA. Several uncommon variants, such as hepatosplenic trunks and IMA origin from the SMA, were identified. 128-slice CT provides high-resolution imaging to reliably assess vascular anatomy. Significant anatomical variation exists in the abdominal aorta and its branches, under-lining the importance of individualized preoperative evaluation.

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