The prevalence of anatomical variants of the coeliac trunk and renal arteries on contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography scans at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital

BACKGROUND: Anatomical variations of the coeliac trunk and renal arteries should be radiologically reported as they affect the surgical approach and subsequent outcome in patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anatomical variations of the coeliac trunk and renal arteries and whether there is a relationship between the occurrence of these variations at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital. METHOD: Arterial phase abdominal computed tomography (CT) or CT abdominal angiograms performed during January and December 2017 were analysed. The variations of the coeliac trunk and renal arteries were classified according to accepted classification systems and expressed as a percentage of the study population. RESULTS: A normal classical coeliac trunk was present in 82.2% and a non-classical pattern was present in 9.7%. The most common variation of the coeliac trunk other than the non-classical pattern was a hepatosplenic trunk, which was present in 3% of the study population. A normal right and left renal artery was present in 88.2% and 83.7%, respectively. The most common variations of the renal arteries were bilateral hilar arteries seen in 3.4% on the right and 9.1% on the left. Renal artery variations were more prevalent on the left than on the right. Concurrent variations of both the right and the left renal arteries were present in 2.4% and variations of both the coeliac trunk and renal arteries were present in 5% of the study population. CONCLUSION: The most common variation of the coeliac trunk in this study is comparable to other studies in non-African populations. Concurrent vascular variations between the renal arteries and between the coeliac trunk and renal arteries may co-exist.