Clinicopathological studies of anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system with pancreas divisum

We examined the morphological aspects of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system in 13 patients with both anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system (AAPB) and associated pancreas divisum (PD), and compared their clinicopathological findings with those of patients with either AAPB or PD alone. PD is classified into three types, i.e., separate pancreas, nonfusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts, and partial fusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts. Of the 13 patients with AAPB and associated PD, 5 were male and 8 female; their mean age was 57 years. Nine of the 13 had clinical symptoms. Five of the 13 had gallbladder cancer, 3 had cholecystolithiasis, and 2 choledochal cyst. One patient showed nonfusion of both pancreatic ducts and the others showed partial fusion of the ducts. The length of the common duct from the orifice of the papilla of Vater to the junction of the common bile duct with the ventral pancreatic duct and the location of the union varied. The presence of both AAPB and PD made the arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ducts very complicated. Clinical aspects were similar to those of AAPB and the patients were likely to be treated for a condition other than PD. However, since relapsing acute pancreatitis and intermittent epigastric pain are typical symptoms in patients with AAPB as well as in those with PD, we should carefully follow up those patients with both AAPB and PD.     

Management of pancreatic pseudocyst

The natural course, complications, and management of 37 patients with pancreatic pseudocyst treated at our institution were reviewed. The lesions were classified into three groups, cysts secondary to acute pancreatitis, to chronic pancreatitis, and to trauma. Spontaneous resolution or cyst diminution was observed in 75% of the patients with acute pancreatitis and trauma, but in only 33% of those with chronic pancreatitis. The interval until resolution or diminution in chronic pancreatitis was shorter than that in pseudocyst of other etiologies, but the incidence of complications in patients with chronic pancreatitis was not significantly higher than that among patients with other etiologies. Multiple complications were found only among the patients with chronic pancreatitis. Surgical management was performed in 25% of the patients with acute pancreatitis and trauma and 66% of the patients with chronic pancreatitis. The postoperative mortality rate was 10%. Reoperation was necessary in 6 of 7 patients who had undergone external drainage, including 3 patients treated with ultrasonography-guided percutaneous catheter drainage (US-PCD). These results suggest that it is necessary to closely monitor patients with chronic pancreatitis and/or external drainage, and in these patients it may become necessary to reoperate. US-PCD was useful as an emergency procedure in pseudocyst patients whose general condition was poor, despite the disadvantages of the piercing of adjacent organs by the catheter, infection, and pseudocyst recurrence.     

Duodenum preservation in pancreatic head resection to maintain pancreatic exocrine function (determined by pancreatic function diagnostant test and cholecystokinin secretion)

Background/Purpose

Organ-preserving surgery, such as pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD), duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR), or medial pancreatectomy (MP), is one of the recent advances in pancreatic surgery. There was a previous report that preservation of the duodenum maintained pancreatic function. However, concerning the resected pancreas, patients were divided into two groups; one group included pancreatic head resections such as Whipple, PPPD, and complete DPPHR, and the other group included MP that removed only the pancreatic neck and preserved the pancreatic head and distal pancreas. The present study was designed to clarify the significance of duodenum preservation, in comparison with duodenum removal, in patients with pancreatic head resection, in terms of pancreatic function, determined by a pancreatic function diagnostant (PFD) test and cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion.

Methods

The subjects were 61 patients (10 with Whipple, 41 with PPPD, and 10 with complete DPPHR). PFD tests and postprandial plasma CCK secretion were used for evaluation.

Results

There was a significant difference between pre- and postoperative PFD values in the patients who received Whipple or PPPD; however, there was no difference in those who had complete DPPHR. Concerning the postoperative PFD value, complete DPPHR was superior to Whipple and PPPD. Regarding postprandial CCK secretion, the pre- and postoperative values were significantly different in the patients with Whipple or PPPD, but there was no difference in those with complete DPPHR. Comparing the three kinds of operations, complete DPPHR was superior to the other two procedures in its maintenance of pancreatic function. There was the significant correlation between CCK and PFD in our patients in the Spearman Rank Correlation (P < 0.0029) and Fisher’s r to z (P < 0.0058).

Conclusions

When pre- and postoperative pancreatic exocrine function and postprandial CCK secretion were measured in patients with pancreatic head resection, it was found that preservation of the entire duodenum was an important factor for maintaining pancreatic function.     

Preservation of the pylorus and resection of the head of the pancreas

The historical evolution of the pylorus-preservation resection of the head of the pancreas is traced from the first resections early in this century to relative standardization of the operation, to a lowering of the operative mortality, and to an interest in improving nutritional status after resection. There are many theoretical advantages for the function of the upper gastrointestinal tract after pylorus and gastric preservation, such as maintenance of gastric capacitance and equilibration of osmotic pressure in gastric digestants, foodstuff digestion and absorption, and bowel motility. After the pylorus-preserving resection, gastric emptying is normal, pyloric function to prevent duodenal reflux is often normal, and gastric acids and serum levels of duodenal hormones are at normal levels, whereas after standard pancreatoduodenectomy, all of these are often abnormal. No prospective blinded studies have been published comparing nutritional values after the two operative procedures, but evidence is presented of a satisfactory result with regard to gastric capacitance, body weight gain, and lack of postgastrectomy symptoms. An undoubted advantage of the pylorus-preserving feature is a simplification of the operation. These gains are achieved without increase in operative mortality, without increase in the incidence of jejunal ulcer, and without theoretical or actual decrease in value of the procedure as a cancer operation, except in patients with duodenal carcinoma proximal to the ampulla of Vater.     

Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery

In the past, in the pancreas, a minimally invasive technique was only used for diagnostic laparoscopy in evaluating periampullary malignancy. Recent advances in operative techniques and instrumentation have empowered surgeons to perform virtually all procedures in the pancreas, including the Whipple procedure. Some of these procedures represent the most sophisticated application of minimally invasive surgery, and their outcomes are reportedly better than those of conventional open approaches. In addition to the evaluation of resectability in periampullary malignancy, palliative procedures, including biliary bypasses and gastrojejunostomy, can be performed laparoscopically. Although it is reportedly feasible to perform a Whipple procedure laparescopically, no benefit of the laparoscopic approach over the conventional open approach has been documented. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy, with or without preserving the spleen, is technically easier than the Whipple procedure, and is more widely accepted. Indications for laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy include cystic neoplasms and islet-cell tumors located in the pancreatic body or tail. Complications of acute and chronic pancreatitis may be treated with the use of surgical laparoscopy. When infected necrotizing pancreatitis is identified, surgical intervention for drainage and debridement is required. According to the type and location of infected necrotizing pancreatitis, three laparoscopic operative approaches have been reported: infracolic debridement, retroperitoneal debridement, and laparoscopic transgastric pancreatic necrosectomy. When internal drainage is indicated for a pseudocyst, a minimally invasive technique is a promising option. Laparoscopic pseudocyst gastrostomy, cyst jejunostomy, or cyst duodenostomy can be performed, depending on the size and location of the pseudocyst. Especially when a pseudocyst is located in close contact with the posterior wall of the stomach, it is best drained by a pseudocyst gastrostomy, which can also be done with the use of an intragastric operative technique.     

Duodenum-preserving total pancreatectomy for pancreatic neoplasms

Background/Purpose

Total pancreatectomy (TP) is sometimes performed to treat low-grade malignant neoplasms that are spreading to the entire pancreas. However, TP impairs quality of life, due to the resulting loss of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function, and an organ-preserving procedure should be chosen to minimize the impact of pancreatic dysfunction. Recently, we performed four duodenum-preserving TPs (DPTPs) on patients with low-grade malignant neoplasms of the entire pancreas and we introduce our operative technique and results herein.

Methods

DPTP is performed with the objective of preserving the arterial arcade of the posterior pancreas so as to maintain good blood flow in the duodenum and common bile duct. Care must also be taken to preserve the splenic artery and vein to protect the spleen. When patients are also undergoing a bile duct resection, an end-to-side choledochoduodenostomy is also performed to reconstruct the biliary tract.

Results

Patient 1: DPTP with preservation of the spleen, conserving splenic vessels, was performed on a patient with hereditary pancreatic carcinoma with pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia-3 (PanIN-3). Patient 2: DPTP with splenectomy was performed on a patient with multiple metastases of the entire pancreas from renal cell carcinoma. Patient 3: DPTP with preservation of the common bile duct and the spleen, conserving splenic vessels, was performed on a patient with minimally invasive carcinoma derived from intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). Patient 4: DPTP with preservation of the spleen, conserving splenic vessels, was performed on a patient with minimally invasive carcinoma derived from IPMN. No deaths or morbidity occurred. All patients were placed on pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and given a daily dose of insulin of approximately 30 U. Complete professional rehabiliation was achieved in all patients. All patients except one gained weight, and the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels have been maintained at around 7%.

Conclusions

DPTP is a useful organ-preserving procedure for low-grade malignant neoplasms spreading within the entire pancreas. This procedure minimizes the impact of pancreatic dysfunction and allows the patient to maintain good nutrition after surgery.     

Solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreatic head causing marked distal atrophy: a tumor originated posterior to the main pancreatic duct

Summary We report the case of a solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the head of the pancreas causing occlusion of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) and marked pancreatic atrophy distal to the tumor disproportionate to the tumor size. A 15-yr-old girl was diagnosed with 5-cm solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreatic head with marked distal pancreatic atrophy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography demonstrated obstruction of the MPD in the pancreatic head. We performed a duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection to avoid postoperative exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. The surgical specimen showed the typical gross appearance of a SPT, with only a thin rim of pancreas anterior to the tumor. We believe that this presentation results when a tumor originates posterior to the MPD. Thus, whether or not pancreatic atrophy occurs depends strongly on the anterior/posterior relationship between the enlarging tumor and the MPD. The risk of SPT causing severe pancreatic atrophy should be kept in mind to avoid irreversible pancreatic insufficiency in young females.     

Somatostatin analogues in the prevention of pancreas-related complications after pancreatic resection

Background/Purpose

The Achilles' heel of operative pancreatectomies is the pancreaticoenterostomy for proximal resections and the pancreatic parenchymal closure for distal resections. Inhibition of pancreatic exocrine secretions by somatostatin analogues has been suggested to decrease pancreas-specific complications, but this topic remains controversial.

Methods

We performed a randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of the use of perioperative vapreotide, a potent somatostatin analogue, in pancreatic resections for presumed neoplasms in 381 patients without chronic pancreatitis. We also reviewed the literature on the use of somatostatin and its analogues after pancreatectomy.

Results

When compared to the placebo, perioperative vapreotide had no effect on overall pancreas-specific complications (30.4% vs 26.4%), mortality (0% vs 1.4%), overall complications (40% vs 42%), and duration of hospitalization; there were no differences in complications per type of resection with use of vapreotide — proximal versus distal resection. Seven other prospective, randomized trials provide differing results.

Conclusions

Our study with vapreotide failed to show any benefit when administered perioperatively (and for 7 days postoperatively) on pancreas-specific complications after major pancreatectomy in patients without chronic pancreatitis. The use of perioperative analogues that suppress pancreatic exocrine secretion seems not to be warranted as routine treatment.     

Patient allocation based on preoperative assessment of pancreatic fibrosis to secure pancreatic anastomosis performed by trainee surgeons: a prospective study

Background

A fragile or non-fibrotic pancreas increases the risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreatic head resection, whereas pancreatic fibrosis decreases the risk. The degree of pancreatic fibrosis can be estimated using the time-signal intensity curve (TIC) of the pancreas, obtained with dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We have investigated whether trainee surgeons can perform pancreatic anastomosis safely, without the occurrence of POPF, when patients are selected carefully based on a preoperative assessment of pancreatic fibrosis.

Methods

Seventy-two consecutive patients who underwent pancreatic head resection were enrolled in this prospective trial. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the pancreas was performed preoperatively in all patients who, based on their pancreatic TIC profile, were then allocated to one of two groups: Group A comprised patients with type I pancreatic TIC, signifying a normal pancreas without fibrosis (n = 46); Group B comprised patients with type II or III pancreatic TIC, signifying a fibrotic pancreas (n = 26). An end-to-side duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy was performed in all patients, with all patients in Group A operated on by two experienced surgeons, and all patients in Group B operated on by one of eight trainee surgeons at various stages of training.

Results

There was no operative mortality. POPF developed in 19 patients: 12 patients with grade A POPF and seven with grade B. All except one of the POPF occurred in Group A patients. The POPF in the one patient from Group B was grade A (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

A trainee surgeon can perform a secure pancreatic anastomosis without the occurrence of POPF in patients with a pancreas displaying a fibrotic pancreatic TIC on dynamic MRI scans.     

Drain data to predict clinically relevant pancreatic fistula

Background

Post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a common and potentially devastating complication of pancreas resection. Management of this complication is important to the pancreas surgeon.

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether drain data accurately predicts clinically significant POPF.

Methods

A prospectively maintained database with daily drain amylase concentrations and output volumes from 177 consecutive pancreatic resections was analysed. Drain data, demographic and operative data were correlated with POPF (ISGPF Grade: A – clinically silent, B – clinically evident, C – severe) to determine predictive factors.

Results

Twenty-six (46.4%) out of 56 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy and 52 (43.0%) out of 121 patients who underwent a Whipple procedure developed a POPF (Grade A-C). POPFs were classified as A (24, 42.9%) and C (2, 3.6%) after distal pancreatectomy whereas they were graded as A (35, 28.9%), B (15, 12.4%) and C (2, 1.7%) after Whipple procedures. Drain data analysis was limited to Whipple procedures because only two patients developed a clinically significant leak after distal pancreatectomy.The daily total drain output did not differ between patients with a clinical leak (Grades B/C) and patients without a clinical leak (no leak and Grade A) on post-operative day (POD) 1 to 7. Although the median amylase concentration was significantly higher in patients with a clinical leak on POD 1–6, there was no day that amylase concentration predicted a clinical leak better than simply classifying all patients as ‘no leak’ (maximum accuracy =86.1% on POD 1, expected accuracy by chance =85.6%, kappa =10.2%).

Conclusion

Drain amylase data in the early post-operative period are not a sensitive or specific predictor of which patients will develop clinically significant POPF after pancreas resection.     

Gross dissection and radiological studies of abnormal pancreatico-choledocho-ductal junction

The reliability of radiological diagnosis of abnormal pancreatico-choledocho-ductal junction (APCDJ) in comparison with findings of gross dissection of the pancreatic choledocho-ductal junction was studied in 8 patients, based on comparison between radiologic and macroscopic findings of the junction in 99 patients who had received pancreatoduodenectomy. APCDJ, that is the joining of the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct in the pancreatic parenchyma extraduodenally, was identified in 5 patients both radiologically and macroscopically. Macroscopically, the length of their common channel ranged from 20 to 32 mm. with a mean of 29 mm. In the other three patients, APCDJ was misdiagnosed radiologically, for the following reasons. In a patient with pancreatic carcinoma, a rather long common channel, 15 mm in length, while ran in the submucosal layer of the duodenum, was though to be APCDJ on radiologic examinations. In a patient with bile duct carcinoma, an abnormal closing between the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct due to carcinomatous infiltration of the pancreas led to a radiologication misinterpretation for APCDJ. In the last patient, APCDJ was identified only macroscopically, not radiologically, because of a relatively short common channel and the location of common bile duct carcinoma. Thus, APCDJ was clearly identified in patients with a long common channel, whereas it was difficult to identify in patients with a short common channel.     

Papillary cystic neoplasm (PCN) of the pancreas with lymph node metastasis: Case report of a 77-year-ood woman and a review of 198 reported cases

A case of papillary cystic neoplasm (PCN) of the pancreas in a 77-year-old woman, the oldest patient in the English literature, is reported. Distal pancreatectomy with regional lymphadenectomy was performed for the tumor in the pancreatic tail. Postoperative pathology examination revealed a metastatic lesion in one of the regional lymph nodes. This patient is well doing without recurrence 5 years after surgery. One hundred and ninety-eight cases of PCN, including the present case, have been reported in the English literature. The patients were aged from 2 to 77 years (mean, 25.8); there were 187 females and 11 males. Sixteen patients with metastasis, 22 with local invasion, and 3 with peritoneal dissemination were reported. Complete resection of the tumor was performed in 151 patients, including 6 with metastasis and 11 with local invasion. Only one patient died of recurrent tumor.     

Embryology of the pancreatic duct system

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been suggested that the distal portion of the dorsal pancreatic duct and the ventral pancreatic duct usually merge into the main pancreatic duct, and the proximal portion of the dorsal pancreatic duct becomes the accessory pancreatic duct. In this study, we investigated the embryology of the accessory pancreatic duct roentgenographically and immunohistochemically. METHODS/RESULTS: The accessory pancreatic duct shows two different patterns in pancreatograms: the long and the short type. The accessory pancreatic duct of the long type forms a straight line and joins the main pancreatic duct at the neck portion of the pancreas. The accessory pancreatic duct of the short type joins the main pancreatic duct near its first inferior branch. Long inferior branches from the accessory pancreatic duct were found in 74.6% with the long type, significantly more often than in the short type (29. 3%). Patency of the long type was (74.5%) significantly greater than in the short type (36.2%). Immunohistochemically, we found the main pancreatic duct between the junction with the accessory pancreatic duct and the neck portion of the autopsy pancreas in the short type was located within the ventral pancreas, characterized by pancreatic polypeptide-rich islets. CONCLUSION: The long type represents a continuation of the main duct of the dorsal primordium. The short type is very likely formed by the proximal main duct of the dorsal primordium and its long inferior branch, with the main duct of the dorsal primordium at the point of connection with the main duct of the ventral primordium being obliterated and replaced by this additional communication.     

Middle pancreatectomy for pancreatic neoplasms

Background

A middle pancreatectomy (MP) is a parenchyma-preserving procedure for benign or low-malignant neoplasms in the neck or body of the pancreas that reduces long-term endocrine and exocrine insufficiency. MP requires the handling of 2 (distal and proximal) pancreatic remnants, and therefore, the higher rates of pancreatic fistula and morbidity may occur after MP rather than after standard pancreatectomies, such as for a pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy. Though there have so far been few reports regarding a high number of series in MP as opposed to standard pancreatic resections, recently reports describing more than 50 case outcomes of MP were published.

Methods

A literature search, which examined articles related to MP, was performed using the PubMed database. Data were compiled to generate conglomerate results of mortality and morbidity rates, and the long-term pancreatic functional insufficiency and recurrence after MP.

Results

The mortality rates varied from 0 to 3%, and the morbidity from 13 to 62%. The rates of pancreatic fistula in more than 50 cases of MP varied from 8 to 30%. The rates of endocrine and exocrine insufficiency were very low (range, 0–9% and 0–8%, respectively).

Conclusions

MP is a safe procedure for the treatment of benign or low-grade malignant neoplasms in the pancreatic neck or body, and in this procedure, the postoperative endocrine and exocrine functions are well preserved.     

Preservation of the pylorus during pancreaticoduodenectomy —Evolution and current indications

The Whipple procedure has been improved by preservation of afunctioning pylorus. A functioning pylorus is important because marginal ulceration is avoided and, compared to the standard Whipple procedure with hemigastrectomy, more patients can gain weight postoperatively. The most common indications for this procedure are severe complication of chronic pancreatitis and periampullary tumors. In patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the pylorus-preserving variety results in equal or better survival rates than those of the standard Whipple procedure with hemigastrectomy. Surgery alone is not sufficient to improve survival rates in patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Improved imaging modalities are required to diagnose the disease earlier. The most likely combination of treatment to prolong survival time is a combination of resection for cure in a patient with an early diagnosis plus an aggressive adjuvant chemoradiotherapy protocol. This protocol is most likely to be completed if a patient has preserved endocrine, exocrine, and digestive ability. A radical (R1) pylorus-preserving Whipple procedure would have the following advantages to result in the best survival rates — the patients can gain weight and thereby withstand the chemoradiotherapy protocol while, at the same time, the weakest aspect of the radical resection is addressed, i.e., the retroperitoneal margin of the pancreatic head.     

Pancreatic segmentation on an embryological and anatomical basis

Limited resection of the pancreas is recommended for low-grade malignancies such as mucin-producing tumors. We propose a system of segmentation of the pancreas for the purposes of limited resection. The proposed system has an anatomical and embryological basis, and divides the pancreas into four segments, namely the anterior head, posterior head, body and tail. These segments are based on the conventional anatomical division of the pancreas, identification of the originating primordium, and distribution of the ventral and dorsal pancreas.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Preoperative endoscopic pancreatic stenting: a novel prophylactic measure against pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy

Background/Purpose

The prevention of pancreatic fistula is still a major problem in distal pancreatectomy (DP). We have recently adopted preoperative endoscopic pancreatic stenting with the aim of preventing the leakage of pancreatic juice from the resection plane of the remnant pancreas after DP. We reviewed ten patients who underwent this intervention.

Methods

One to 6 days before surgery, the patients underwent an endoscopic transpapillary pancreatic stent (7 Fr., 3 cm) placement. The perioperative short-term outcomes were assessed.

Results

Preoperative endoscopic pancreatic stenting was successfully performed in all ten patients. Two (20%) patients, both with intraductal papillary mucinous tumor, developed mild acute pancreatitis after the stent placement. None of the ten patients developed pancreatic fistula. The pancreatic stent was removed 8–28 days (mean, 11 days) postoperatively.

Conclusions

Preoperative endoscopic pancreatic stenting may be an effective prophylactic measure against pancreatic fistula development following DP.

     

Lymphatic drainage of the gallbladder

Based upon detailed dissections of the lymphatic system in adult cadavers, the lymphatic drainage of the gallbladder was divided into three pathways: (1) The cholecystoretropancreatic pathway, which had two routes, one running spirally from the anterior surface of the common bile duct to the right rear, and the other running almost straight down from the posterior surface of the common bile duct. These routes converged at the principal retroportal node at the posterior surface of the head of the pancreas. (2) The cholecysto-celiac pathway; this was the route running to the left through the hepatoduodenal ligament to reach the celiac nodes. (3) The cholecysto-mesenteric pathway; this was the route running to the left in front of the portal vein to connect with the nodes at the superior mesenteric root. The cholecysto-retropancreatic pathway can be regarded as the main pathway, and the principal retroportal node appeared to be critical as the main terminal node in the visceral lymphatic system of the gallbladder. These three pathways converged with the abdomino-aortic lymph nodes near the left renal vein, and the nodes in the interaortico-caval space were considered to be of particular importance.     

Preservation of the pylorus in resection of the head of the pancreas

Pylorus preservation has been advocated to decrease the morbidity associated with the classical or standard pancreaticoduodenectomy. The proposed advantages are decreased incidence of peptic ulceration, dumping syndrome, and nutritional problems. However, after an initial period of enthusiasm for the procedure, it is now being found that marginal ulceration at the duodenojejunal anastomosis is encountered with increasing frequency. Delay in gastric emptying occurs frequently, with an overall incidence of 30%. With the availability of better pancreatic enzyme supplements, the current incidence of nutritional problems and weight loss after the standard Whipple procedure is unknown. Whether there is a difference in long-term survival after the two procedures performed for adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas is still debatable. A controlled trial is needed to answer many of these questions, and pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy should be used cautiously until further data become available.     

Multislice CT study of pancreatic head arterial dominance

Background/Purpose

When a pancreatoduodenectomy is to be conducted, preoperative understanding of the vascular anatomy of the pancreatic head is important in order to reduce intraoperative bleeding. Using multislice computed tomography (MS-CT), we investigated the depiction rate and branching of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) and dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA), afferent arteries to the pancreatic head.

Methods

In 109 patients (68 with pancreatic cancer, 21 with biliary tract cancer, 15 with intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas, and 5 others), images were taken, using 64-row MS-CT, in the early and late arterial phases.

Results

The depiction rates were 98.2% for the IPDA and 96.3% for the DPA. Branching of the IPDA was categorized into three types: a type in which the IPDA formed a common vessel with the first jejunal branch (72.0%), a type in which the IPDA branched directly from the superior mesenteric artery (18.7%), and a type in which the anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (AIPDA) and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PIPDA) branched separately (9.3%). DPA branching was categorized into five types, in which the DPA branched from the splenic artery (40.0%), from the common hepatic artery (25.7%), from the superior mesenteric artery (20.0%), and from the celiac artery (8.6%), and a type in which the DPA branching did not follow any of the above patterns (5.7%).

Conclusions

MS-CT images of vascular architecture enable evaluation from any angle, which is not possible with conventional angiography, making MS-CT a useful diagnostic imaging technique for understanding the vascular anatomy of the pancreatic head prior to conducting pancreatoduodenectomy for diseases of the pancreatic head region.