Aberrant left gastric artery arising from hepatic artery: angiographic study

Objective To study the anatomic characteristics of the aberrant left gastric artery (AbLGA) arising from the hepatic artery with digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and to investigate its clinical significance in respect of interventional radiology. Methods A total of 1000 patients of the hepatic DSA arteriograms, consisting of 212 cases of selective celiac trunk arteriography and 788 cases of common hepatic arteriography, were reviewed retrospectively. The frequency of the AbLGA arising from the hepatic artery was calculated, and its anatomic characteristics such as origin, course, branches and distribution were described. Results Of 1000 cases, the AbLGA arising from the hepatic artery was found in 82 cases ((8.2%), 82/1000), and 84 branches of aberrant arteries were revealed in all. Of these vessels, 74 branches arose from the left hepatic artery, and 10 branches from the proper hepatic artery. Conclusion The aberrant left gastric artery arising from the hepatic artery is common. It is very important to familiarize this kind of aberrant artery in the angiographic diagnosis and interventional therapy of hepatic neoplasms and arterial bleeding of the stomach. [