Aberrant left gastric vein is associated with hepatic artery variations.

Abstract

To investigate the imaging findings and hepatic artery variations encountered in patients with aberrant left gastric vein (ALGV). A retrospective database search between January 2014 and November 2018 was carried for ALGV. The course and types (1-3) of ALGV, the presence of associated liver lesions, and coexistence of hepatic artery variations were reviewed on CT images. A total of 32 patients (22 men, 68.7%) with a mean age of 52.5years (range 22-76years) were found to have ALGV. The prevalence of ALGV was 0.073%. The most frequent type of ALGV was type 1 (n = 22, 68.7%), followed by type 3 (n = 7, 21.8%) and type 2 (n = 3, 9.3%). We noticed mild-to-severe parenchymal hyperdensity at the posterior aspect of segments II and III in patients with type 1 (n = 20/22) and type 2 (n = 2/3) ALGV consistent with fat sparing due to third inflow effect. Two out of seven patients with type 3 ALGV had main portal vein thrombosis; however, the presence of ALGV maintained left portal vein flow in these patients. Twelve (37.5%) patients had accompanying hepatic artery variation. Left hepatic and right hepatic artery variations were detected in 8 (25%) and 2 (6.25%) of the patients, respectively. In 2 patients, Michels type IV variation was detected. Aberrant left gastric vein is associated with hepatic artery variations, which can be important for preoperative and pretransplant planning.