Simultaneous aberrant left and right gastric veins draining directly into the liver

Abstract

Aberrant gastric veins draining directly into the liver are rare variations of the portal vein system. We report on an autopsy in which both right and left gastric veins drained directly into the liver without joining the portal vein. Although the left gastric artery adopted a standard disposition, the left gastric vein was indeed found to ascend from the lesser curvature through the upper part of the lesser omentum. After receiving branches from the gastroesophageal junction, it directly entered the left part of the porta hepatis. The right gastric vein ascended from the lesser gastric curvature along and in front of the right aspect of the common bile duct without ending in the portal vein. It crossed in front of the common hepatic duct and directly entered the porta hepatis. Careful dissection within the liver parenchyma showed that both gastric veins ended in the intra-hepatic part of the left branch of the portal vein. Although aberrant gastric veins are known variations of the portal vein system, the conjunction of both right and left gastric vein has never been reported. It highlights the possibility that the venous drainage of the gastric lesser curvature may be totally independent of the main portal vein.