Pentafurcation of celiac trunk: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

Background: This study reports a rare case of celiac trunk pentafurcation variation and reviewed the relevant literature to summarize the classification of celiac trunk variations and their potential clinical significance.

Materials and methods: This study provides a detailed anatomical description of a celiac trunk pentafurcation variation found in the cadaver of an elderly Chinese woman. The diameters and positional relationships of each branch were measured and recorded. Through a literature review, we summarized the classification, frequency, and clinical significance of celiac trunk variations.

Results: Anatomical findings revealed that the celiac trunk in this case gave rise to five branches: the left inferior phrenic artery, left gastric artery, splenic artery, right inferior phrenic artery, and common hepatic artery. A literature review indicated that the typical celiac trunk three-branch pattern occurs with a frequency of 89.42%. Atypical branch patterns include two branches (7.66%), four branches (1.74%), and five or more branches (0.18%). Among the cases of pentafurcation variation, those involving bilateral inferior phrenic arteries are extremely rare, with only sporadic reports in the literature. This variation may impact surgical planning and patient treatment strategies, making it essential to recognize in clinical practice.

Conclusions: Understanding the normal anatomical structure of the celiac trunk and the variations in its branching pattern has important clinical value in surgery, oncology and interventional radiology procedures. Clinicians should remain vigilant in clinical practice and be prepared to address potential anatomical variations they may encounter. Furthermore, rare anatomical variations should be thoroughly documented and reported to enrich medical literature and provide valuable resources for anatomical teaching.