STUDY OF ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS OF HEPATIC VASCULATURE USING CONTRAST-ENHANCED COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Liver has a complex vascular system with numerous anatomical variations, playing a crucial role in diagnostic imaging, hepatobiliary surgery, and liver transplantation. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is an effective method for evaluating these variations prior to treatment. Objectives: To determine the anatomical characteristics and variations of the hepatic arterial system, portal venous system, and hepatic venous system using CECT. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 840 patients aged 18 and older who underwent CECT at the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Can Tho Central General Hospital, from 2024 to 2026. Results: The common hepatic artery originated from the celiac trunk in 94.9% of cases. According to the Michels classification, the classic hepatic arterial anatomy (Type 1) accounted for the highest proportion at 72.9%, while non-Michels variations accounted for 4.6%. According to the Covey classification, the standard portal vein branching pattern was observed in 87.1% of cases; variations of Types 2, 3, 4, and 5 accounted for 7.6%, 1.4%, 2.6%, and 1.3%, respectively. Regarding the hepatic venous system, a common trunk of the middle and left hepatic veins was recorded in 50.7% of cases, and 33.4% of subjects possessed an accessory right hepatic vein draining directly into the inferior vena cava. Conclusions: Anatomical variations of hepatic vasculature occur with a relatively high frequency. Accurate identification of these variations on CECT is of paramount importance for diagnosis, surgical planning, and interventions, contributing to reducing the risk of complications and improving treatment efficacy.
Keywords
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography, CECT, anatomical variations, hepatic vasculature
Article Details
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