Preoperative evaluation using multi-slice spiral CT angiography of right-side colon vascular in laparoscopic radical operation for right colon cancer

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the value of multi-slice spiral CT angiography (MSCTA) in the analysis of anatomical variation and structural classification of right colon vessels. Methods: From August 2015 to August 2017, 198 patients (96 of whom underwent laparoscopic radical resection of right colon cancer) at Department of General surgery of Peking University First Hospital were retrospectively collected, and the results of abdominal enhanced CT scan were collected and three-dimensional reconstruction of blood vessels was performed. There were 104 males and 94 females. The age was 64(27) years (M(Q(R)), range: 19 to 87 years). Right gastroepiploic vein, anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein, right colonic vein (RCV), superior right colonic vein, ileocolon artery or vein (ICA or ICV), middle colon artery or vein (MCA or MCV) and Henle trunk were observed and recorded respectively. The anatomical relationship between the positions of blood vessels, the length of Henle trunk and surgical trunk were measured. Results: ICV and ICA were the most constant anatomic structures. The ICV/ICA of all patients came directly from SMV/SMA, 36.9% (73/198) ICV going in front of SMV and 63.1% (125/198) behind SMV. 72.2% (143/198) of the patients had RCV imported into Henle trunk and the rest into SMV. Middle colonic vein (MCV) could be observed in 81.3% (161/198) of the cases. 81.4% (131/161) of MCV were imported into SMV, 16.8% (27/161) into Henle trunk, 1.2% (2/161) into the first jejunal vein and 0.6% (1/161) into the splenic vein. Henle trunk was divided into 4 types, among which the occurrence probability of gastric node and pancreatic trunk was the highest. The dry length of Henle trunk was (0.82±0.39) cm (range: 0.37 to 1.68 cm). The length of surgical trunk was (2.54±0.83) cm (range: 1.57 to 3.95 cm). Accuracy of MSCTA results was 96.9%(93/96). Conclusions: Anatomical variation of blood vessels in the right colon is common. Abdominal CT angiography can accurately determine the anatomical structure of the blood vessels in the right colon.