Dorsal Artery Research Articles

The dorsal scapular artery in the lower third of the trapezius muscle

A Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica é o órgão oficial de divulgação da Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica (SBCP), tem como objetivo registrar a produção científica em Cirurgia Plástica, fomentar o estudo, aperfeiçoamento e atualização dos profissionais da especialidade.

Evaluating the relationships between splenic artery and pancreatic parenchyma using three dimensional CT for laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy

Background: Isolating the root of splenic artery (SPA) is essential for conventional distal pancreatectomy, while remains challenging in laparoscopic procedure due to the complexity in anatomical variation around SPA. This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of preoperative evaluation of the relationships between SPA and pancreatic parenchyma using 3D-CT. Methods: A total of 104 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy (74 with laparoscopic procedure and 30 with open procedure) were evaluated. The relationship between SPA and pancreatic parenchyma was classified into two types with preoperative 3D-CT, namely “Buried type” and “Non-buried type”. Video clips of 50 patients were reviewed to investigate whether this classification would be related with the difficulty of isolating the SPA. In addition, the distribution of dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) was also evaluated. Results: DPA from SPA was identified in 94 (91.3%) patients and the number was four in one patient, three in 8, two in 29, and one in 56. Fifty-eight (55.8%) patients had DPA within 30mm of the root of the SPA. Of the 50 assessed patients who underwent LDP, there were “Buried-type” in 30 (60.0%) and “Non-buried” type in 20 (40.0%). The median time for isolating SPA in “Buried-type” (25.8 min; range, 4.0 to 101) was significantly longer than that in “Non-buried type” (7.0 min, range, 1.0 to 27.0) (P< 0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative 3D anatomical image analysis around pancreas is practical to predict the difficulty of isolating the root of SPA and to provide the safety of the procedure.

Transverse facial artery: Its role in blindness after cosmetic filler and botulinum toxin injections

Masseter injections for cosmetic or pathological reasons are increasingly common, as are filler injections using dual or multiplane techniques in the lateral facial regions or for jawline contouring. The occurrence of blindness following these procedures often remains unexplained. This study aimed to determine the anatomical explanation for this debilitating complication by investigating the transverse facial artery and its relation to the masseter. For this purpose, we dissected 35 cheek specimens with latex injections and 10 specimens without latex. The external carotid artery was dissected up to its bifurcation into the maxillary and superficial temporal arteries. Results showed that the transverse facial artery arose from the superficial temporal or external carotid artery that runs between the zygomatic arch and the parotid duct. Three types of transverse facial arteries were observed: type I: a short artery that did not extend beyond the masseter muscle; type II: a transverse artery that ran to the nasolabial fold and anastomosed to the facial artery; and type III: a sizable transverse artery that substituted the hypoplastic facial artery, continued as the angular artery, and then anastomosed to the dorsal nasal artery. Knowledge of these three types of transverse facial arteries is a prerequisite to study the vascular territory. Type III provides an explanation for the occurrence of blindness after lateral face injections. We consequently define a line that runs from the tragus to the outer quarter of the upper lip as the risk area, while the safe zone is located on either side of this line.

Dorsal Epidural Artery Pseudoaneurysm – An Unusual Complication after Posterior Instrumented Stabilisation

Vascular complications during lumbar disc surgeries are a rare but fatal complication. Most commonly injured vessels during spinal surgeries include the aorta, common iliac vessels, and very rarely the lumbar arteries. The damage to a major vessel such as aorta and iliac artery present with acute symptoms requiring immediate surgical intervention, whereas small vessels such as lumbar segmental artery and its branches when injured may form arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneurysm presenting at a later stage. We report a rare case of dorsal epidural artery pseudoaneurysm following lumbar discectomy and posterior instrumented stabilization presenting with progressive signs of neurological deficit due to dural sac compression and also emphasize the importance of its early diagnosis thus preventing fatal complications.

Safety and efficacy of transarterial embolisation for treatment of dorsal pancreatic artery haemorrhage

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial embolisation (TAE) of dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) haemorrhage. Nineteen consecutive patients (M:F=16:3, mean age 59.6 years) who underwent TAE of DPA in three tertiary medical centres between January 2001 to January 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Angiographic features and the technical and clinical outcomes of TAE were analysed. The clinical presentations were a bloody drain from the Jackson-Pratt drainage tube (n=8), melaena (n=7), abdominal pain (n=4), and haematochezia (n=3). Angiographic findings included pseudoaneurysm (n=14), contrast media extravasation (n=4), or abrupt cut-off of the arterial branch (n=1). The NBCA (N-butyl-cyanoacrylate; n=4), microcoils (n=4), and a combination of these agents (n=7) were used as embolic agents. The most common origin of the DPA in the present study cohort was the splenic artery (n=7), followed by the coeliac trunk (n=4), common hepatic artery (n=4), and superior mesenteric artery (n=4). Technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 84.2% (16/19), respectively. Of the three clinically unsuccessful cases, two patients were revealed to have newly developed bleeding from another artery. The other patient expired 1 day after the TAE procedure due to a progression of hepatic failure. In one patient, an asymptomatic non-target embolisation occurred in the right posterior tibial artery as a procedure-related complication. No major complications were observed. TAE is safe and effective for the management of bleeding from the DPA. It is important to be aware of the DPA as a potential bleeding source, including the relevant clinical characteristics.

The arterial blood supply of the symphysis pubis – Spatial orientated and highly variable

BackgroundOpen surgical treatment of the pubic region and adductor related pathologies require an exact knowledge of the arterial blood supply of the symphysis pubis that seems furthermore important to explain the hematogenous occurrence of symphysitis. Pubic bone marrow oedema (PBME) is a frequent occurring magnetic resonance imaging finding in groin pain. However, even asymptomatic athletes present PBME and a correlation to the physical activity or higher blood flow was suggested. Data on the vascular anatomy of the symphysis pubis are rare. MethodsTen formaldehyde-embalmed cadavers were dissected, and the arterial blood supply was investigated and photographically documented. ResultsIn the majority of cases the following pattern was determined: superior–inferior epigastric artery (n=12 hemipelves), inferior - dorsal artery of the penis/dorsal artery of the clitoris (n=16), posterior- obturator artery (n=16 hemipelves), anterior- deep external pudendal artery (n=14 hemipelves). Besides variations for the deep external pudendal artery anteriorly, we observed a highly variable arterial supply, especially superior. Superior in 4/10 cadavers, inferior in 0/10 cadavers, posterior in 2/10 cadavers and anterior in 5/10 cadavers side variations were found. ConclusionThe symphysis pubis has a spatial and rich organized arterial blood supply with several variations. Despite the symphysis pubis is recognized as bradytroph, the high number of vessels is presumably required in stress situations for example in heavy training.

Abstract 16853: Retrograde Peripheral Limb Perfusion for Formidable Femoral Arterial Access in Veno-Arterial ECMO Treatment

Introduction: VA ECMO has emerged to a well-established therapeutic method in severe acute heart failure. In the case of peripheral ECMO placement, especially applying direct arterial cannulation, the limb perfusion is often compromised by an occlusive effect of the cannula positioned in the femoral artery. The classical proximal femoral arterial reperfusion branch provides sufficient blood flow via a small auxiliary cannula, but in patients with severe peripheral arterial vasculopathy or with significant tissue depth resulting from obesity, the placement of a peripheral arterial perfusion loop may pose a technical challenge. Methods: In case of emerging peripheral ischemic symptoms at femoral VA ECMO placement, ultrasound scanning of the lower limb vessels is performed. In an uncomplicated vascular situation, antegrade distal perfusion can be established. If a significant vasculopathy is present in the proximal vessels, or any further hindrances, including extreme obesity, physically not allowing a subtle perfusion cannula placement resulting from the discrepancy between the tissue depth and cannula length, retrograde peripheral perfusion could be established via the dorsal pedal artery utilising the Seldinger method. An ultrasonographic guidance is essential; hence there is sometimes no backflow present on the inserted cannula in a critically ischemic limb. Following sufficient de-airing manoeuvres, the retrograde femoral flow can be safely established; NIRS confirms the successful reperfusion in a short timeframe. If the dorsal pedal artery is not sufficient for cannulation purposes, the postmalleolar posterior tibial artery segment or the anterior tibial artery through the similarly named muscle can be utilised for cannulation purposes. Results: Two patients showed a pre-reperfusion calf saturation of 29% and 38%, which has increased to 61% and 64% after re-establishing the distal flow within minutes, respectively. We have experienced no complications emerging during the application of the above method. Conclusions: In case of peripheral vascular disease or the body habitus does not allow safe installation of an antegrade flow device, our retrograde perfusion option can save the affected limb on VA ECMO therapy.

Celiac axis stenosis and digestive disease: Diagnosis, consequences and management.

Arterial blood flow to the organs of the upper abdomen is provided by the celiac axis (CA) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) that communicate between each other via the gastro-duodenal artery, the anterior and posterior pancreatico-duodenal arcades, the branches of the dorsal pancreatic artery and inconsistently, though a supplementary arcade that connects the CA and the SMA (arcade of Bühler). Celiac axis stenosis may or may not have a hemodynamic impact on the splanchnic circulation. Hemodynamically significant CA stenosis can be asymptomatic, or symptomatic with variables clinical consequences. Management depends on whether the mechanism of stenosis is extrinsic or intrinsic. When upper gastrointestinal interventional radiology or surgery is indicated, stenosis can pose technical difficulties or create severe ischemia requiring good understanding of this entity in the planning of operative steps and adapted management. Management of CA stenosis is therefore multidisciplinary and may involve interventional radiologists, gastrointestinal surgeons, vascular surgeons as well as medical physicians. Even though the prevalence of CA stenosis is relatively low (between 5 and 10%) and irrespective of its etiology, surgeons, radiologists and physicians must be aware of it because it can intervene in the management of upper gastrointestinal disease. It must be sought, and treatment must be adapted to each particular situation to avoid potentially severe complications.

Doppler Ultrasonographic Anatomy of the Midline Nasal Dorsum.

This study was performed to identify a safe method for filler injection to prevent blood vessel damage, by means of checking the location and depth of the blood vessels on the midline of the nose using Doppler ultrasonographic imaging. Ultrasonographic images of the nasal areas of patients for filler injection rhinoplasty were reviewed. The location and depth of the dorsal nasal arteries and the intercanthal vein in each part on the midline of the nose were checked. The intercanthal vein was detected in the midline of the radix in 22 patients and the midline of the rhinion region in two patients. There were no patients in whom the intercanthal vein was observed in the midline of the supratip region. The dorsal nasal artery was detected in the rhinion region in six patients and in the supratip region in two patients. There were no patients in whom the dorsal nasal artery was observed in the midline of the radix. The dorsal nasal artery was located within 1.2 mm from the perichondrium or periosteum in three patients in whom it was detected in the rhinion. When performing dorsal augmentation, the injection of filler into the preperiosteal layer in the rhinion region should be avoided for the prevention of vascular embolism. During dorsal augmentation in patients with a nasal hump, the filler can be injected into the preperiosteal space in the radix by introducing a needle perpendicular to the periosteum from the skin. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Free Flap Reconstruction of a Challenging Defect in the Posterior Cervicothoracic Region Using the Transverse Cervical Artery

Reconstructions of large defects located in the posterior cervicothoracic region still present challenges to plastic surgeons. The local or regional flap is preferred in the posterior cervicothoracic region and many surgeons are reluctant to perform reconstruction using a microvascular free flap because of various reasons including vascular paucity. We report a case of a 60-year-old patient with the chronic wound at posterior cervicothoracic region. An anterolateral thigh free flap was considered the best available reconstructive method due to the size of the defect and the possibility of damaging the dorsal scapular artery. We used the transverse cervical artery and jugular vein as recipient vessels and the better result was shown than that of regional or local flaps. In our report, we presented that the transverse cervical artery which didn’t have commonly used can provide a reliable and advantageous recipient artery for the microvascular free flap reconstruction of posterior cervicothoracic defects.

A comparative assessment of dorsal radial artery access versus classical radial artery access for percutaneous coronary angiography-a randomized control trial (DORA trial)

A comparative assessment of dorsal radial artery access versus classical radial artery access for percutaneous coronary angiography-a randomized control trial (DORA trial)

Transposition Flap for Cutaneous Lesion Coverage in Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune inflammatory myopathy with some cutaneous manifestations. We present the case of a patient with a bone-depth skin ulceration on the elbow that was well healed with a transposition flap using a dorsal interosseous artery perforator. A 56-year-old man reported difficulties when climbing stairs and diffuse pain of unclear origin throughout his body that started 2 months previously. The patient was diagnosed with DM, and the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery was consulted for the management of an ulcerative skin lesion on the left elbow. The dorsal interosseous artery was first detected by vascular Doppler ultrasonography, and a transposition flap was designed including the pedicle. The flap was transposed to cover the bone exposure over the olecranon. At 4 weeks postoperatively, complete healing of the wound was observed without complications, and the patient had full range of motion of the elbow without pain. Despite major developments in the medical treatment of DM, ulcerative cutaneous lesions remain difficult to treat. Our experience suggests that the use of a transposition flap including the dorsal interosseous artery is suitable for the treatment of ulcerative lesions around the elbow in DM patients.

Hemoptysis after Lung Transplantation Caused by Bronchial Arterial Neovascularization: Angiographic Analysis and Successful Embolization

This report discusses 3 bilateral lung transplant recipients (2 female, 1 male) who presented with late hemoptysis (10 y, 18 y, and 19 y after transplantation). All patients had a history of pulmonary infections, bronchiectasis, and/or Aspergillus infection. Arteriography, through catherization of the common femoral artery, demonstrated spontaneous bronchial and systemic neovascularization arising from the thyrocervical trunk, internal thoracic artery, intercostal arteries, and dorsal scapular artery. Embolization was performed with microspheres, polyvinyl alcohol microparticles, and/or glue and effectively terminated hemoptysis. One patient died 10 d later as a result of fungal infection, and the 2 others remained in stable condition (18- and 26-mo postembolization follow-up available).

The Role of Reverse Posterior Interosseous Artery Flap in Toe Transfer

BACKGROUND: Reverse posterior interosseous artery (rPIA) flap is an excellent tool for the restoration of defects in the hand and upper extremity. Its reliability and versatility are well established. Compared with the other forearm flaps, it spares the main arteries to the hand. Although very few case reports used the reverse radial forearm flap to provide arterial inflow for the toe-to-thumb transfer, the role rPIA flap in such cases has yet to be described. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Five procedures involving 4 patients performed by a single surgeon to power up a toe-to-thumb transfer were reviewed. In all the cases, the first dorsal metatarsal artery was anastomosed to the transposed proximal posterior interosseous artery. RESULTS: Three patients underwent unilateral reconstruction and 1 patient had bilateral thumb base reconstruction using rPIA flaps. Secondary toe-to-thumb transfers were performed at 1–7 months after mounding up the thumb base with rPIA flaps. All the flaps and toe transfers survived completely without any partial necrosis. All patients were satisfied with the functional outcome as well as the appearance of the thumb. CONCLUSION: The use of the proximal posterior interosseous artery pedicle in rPIA flap is a safe and reliable procedure especially in cases involving traumatic loss of the thumb. In addition to the simple soft tissue coverage around the thumb base, the rPIA flap also provides a satisfactory arterial inflow during subsequent toe-to-thumb transfer.

A case of bleeding from maxillary carcinoma embolized from the maxillary and ophthalmic arteries

BackgroundThe majority of maxillary sinus cancers are advanced at initial detection due to anatomical limitations and lack of early symptoms. In patients with orbital invasion, the feeding arteries of the tumor are often associated with the ophthalmic artery in addition to the maxillary artery. We describe a case of tumor bleeding in a patient with recurrent maxillary carcinoma that was treated with embolization from the maxillary and ophthalmic arteries.Case presentationA 70-year-old man was treated for left maxillary carcinoma from the maxillary artery with 6 cycles of selective intra-arterial cisplatin infusion with concomitant radiation therapy. He subsequently had epistaxis and underwent arterial embolization for hemostasis. He had almost no sight by this time. Angiography of the left external carotid artery and internal carotid artery revealed blood supply from the maxillary and ophthalmic arteries. Regarding the maxillary artery, coil embolization was performed after embolization with 300-500 μm Embosphere. On the other hand, for the ophthalmic artery, the 3rd portion, supratrochlear artery and dorsal nasal artery, were selected and embolized with coils. Final angiography revealed disappearance of tumor staining and a residual choroidoretinal blush. There was no bleeding that needed treatment up to 2 months after embolization.ConclusionsIn embolization of the ophthalmic artery, it is necessary to embolize the second and subsequent parts because the arteries associated with visual function branch off from the first part. Even in patients whose visual acuity has been almost lost, like in this case, there is a risk of eye pain from embolization at the proximal end, and distal embolization is necessary.

First Dorsal Metatarsal Artery Flap for Coverage of Distal Foot Wounds: A Case Discussion and Narrative Review

Reconstruction of distal foot and toe wounds present a challenging problem, as defects in this area are often associated with exposed tendons and bones, making split skin grafts impossible in many cases. There is also a need for any flap to achieve a smooth and nonbulky contour to allow for wearing of footwear and acceptable esthetic results. The first dorsal metatarsal artery (FDMA) flap has been increasingly described as a functional and effective method of managing relatively small distal foot and toe defects. We present a case study of our patient who underwent FDMA flap coverage of a big toe dorsum wound, and we also present a review of the literature. Of the 13 papers and 46 cases in the published literature, all flaps survived. Authors report good functional outcomes, with patients regaining ambulation and fitting footwear owing to the flap’s thin and pliable contour. Complications reported include 5 cases of superficial distal tip necrosis, all of which healed spontaneously. We conclude that the FDMA flap is a reliable, reproducible, and suitable coverage option for small distal foot, webspaces, and toe defects. They are relatively easy to perform and associated with good reported outcomes. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level V. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Extended Transverse-oblique Back Flap for Myelomeningocele Defect Closure: A Case Series of 10 Patients.

Background:Myelomeningocele is the most common phenotype of congenital neural tube defects. Various reconstructive techniques have been described for soft tissue coverage following myelomeningocele repair, one of which is the use of dorsal intercostal artery perforator based flaps. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with the use of a transverse-oblique back flap that can be reliably extended to the anterior axillary line for closure of myelomeningocele defect. This pedicle transposition flap is based on thoracic or lumbar paraspinal perforators that originate from the dorsal intercostal arteries.Methods:This is a retrospective two center case-series where all patients who underwent myelomeningocele defect closure with extended transverse-oblique flap over three years period were included. Patients’ clinical data, surgical variables, and outcomes were documented and analyzed using descriptive measures. Flap harvest technique is also delineated in the present study.Result:Ten newborns (7 baby girls and 3 baby boys) who underwent a surgical closure of the myelomeningocele defect with an extended transverse-oblique back flap during the first week of life were included in the analysis. The defect was most commonly located in the lumbosacral area (50%) followed by the lumbar area (40%), with an overall average surface area of 22 ± 8.32 cm2. Common encountered complications include venous congestion to the distal part of the flap and minor wound dehiscence of less than 0.5 cm, all were managed conservatively. There were no incidences of flap loss or full necrosis. Primary closure of the donor site was possible in all cases.Conclusions:In the current series, the extended transverse-oblique back flap provided a safe and reliable coverage for myelomeningocele defect. Such a flap does not jeopardize other regional fasciocutanous or musclocutaneous flaps that might be needed for soft tissue coverage later in life for this population. It also obviates the placement of skin suture line over the repaired neural tube, thus yielding a durable coverage with no major complications or functional disability.

Effects of ilioinguinal composite tissue flaps in repairing skin and soft tissue defects on hand or foot

Objective: To explore the effects of ilioinguinal composite tissue flaps in repairing skin and soft tissue defects on hand or foot and reconstructing the flexion and extension functions of wrist, finger, ankle, and toe. Methods: From February 2012 to March 2018, 4, 5, and 3 patients (11 males and 1 female, 23-62 years old) with skin and soft tissue defects on hand or foot were admitted to Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Zhongmu County of Henan Province, Henan Armed Police Corps Hospital, and the Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, respectively. Five patients had hand defects, and 7 patients had foot defects. The areas of skin and soft tissue defects after debridement were 10 cm×8 cm-15 cm×10 cm. The ilioinguinal composite tissue flaps were designed and resected according to the wound area and the length of tendon defects, and the areas of flaps were 10 cm×8 cm-15 cm×12 cm. According to the specific condition of the recipient area, the superficial iliac circumflex artery in the tissue flap was reconstructed by end-to-side anastomosis in 2 patients and end-to-end anastomosis in 1 patient with ulnar artery, end-to-side anastomosis in 4 patients with the dorsal foot artery, end-to-side anastomosis in 2 patients with the posterior tibial artery, and end-to-end anastomosis in 1 patient with the external tarsal foot artery in the recipient area, and the superficial epigastric artery in the tissue flap was reconstructed by end-to-side anastomosis in 1 patient with the radial artery and end-to-end anastomosis in 1 patient with the ulnar artery in the recipient area. The donor sites were sutured directly or repaired with medium split-thickness skin grafts. The survival of tissue flap after the operation and the appearance, texture, and the two-point discrimination distance of the tissue flaps during follow-up were observed. The hand function and foot function were evaluated by the total active movement standard of hand and the Maryland foot score standard, respectively. Results: All the tissue flaps in 12 patients survived. During follow-up of 6-36 months after operation, the tissue flaps were slightly bloated, with linear scars at the junction site in the recipient area, and the two-point discrimination distances of the tissue flaps were 15-22 mm. The hand function was excellent in 3 cases, good in 1 case, and fair in 1 case, and the foot function was excellent in 4 cases, good in 2 cases, and fair in 1 case, and all the patients were satisfied with the function and appearance of hand or foot. Conclusions: The ilioinguinal composite tissue flaps can repair the hand and foot wounds and reconstruct the flexion and extension functions of wrist, finger, ankle, and toe at the same time, which is an effective method to repair this kind of defects.

Perforator based flaps of lateral thoracic artery (LTAP) and thoracodorsal artery (TDAP) for axillary reconstruction in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease of apocrine gland-bearing skin, especially in the axilla. The coverage of large defects in the region of the axilla after radical resection poses a challenge to reconstructive surgery. The lateral chest offers, among others, two options for perforator flaps: the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap and the lateral thoracic artery perforator flap. This article introduces the lateral thoracic artery flap as an additional option for defect restoration alongside the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap. A total of 13 flaps (10 lateral thoracic artery perforator flaps and 3 thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps) were used for defect reconstruction in 10 patients with axillary hidradenitis suppurativa stages II or III. All patients were assessed for surgical complications pursuant to the classification of Clavien-Dindo, subjective aesthetic results, recurrence rate, and maximum abduction angle evaluated by measuring the range of motion. All flaps healed without major or partial flap necrosis. In 12 out of 13 flaps, the aesthetic result was rated very good or good.Only one patient complained of a visible scar, but rated the overall result as satisfactory. The range of motion in the shoulder was unlimited in all cases with a maximum abduction angle of 178.8 ± 4.2°. Recurrence was not observed in any case during the postsurgical follow-up of 27.2 ± 14.4 months. The use of the two perforator-based fasciocutaneous flaps of the thoraco dorsal artery and the lateral thoracic artery offers a useful and reliable option for the reconstruction of large axillary defects while maintaining full shoulder movement and providing cosmetically satisfactory results.

Patients with type 2 diabetes present with multiple anomalies of the pancreatic arterial tree on abdominal computed tomography: comparison between patients with type 2 diabetes and a matched control group

BackgroundStudies suggest that cardio-vascular risk factors could foster the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This could partly be mediated by pancreatic atherosclerosis resulting in pancreatic ischemia. We hypothesized that patients with T2D present with more severe atherosclerosis of pancreas-bound arteries than control patients without T2D.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study comparing the abdominal computed tomography of patients with T2D and of control subjects matched for gender and for age. We performed a multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for age, gender, BMI and the presence or absence of hypertension.ResultsForty-eight patients with T2D and 48 control subjects were included. A calcification score of the splenic artery was defined (from 0: no calcification to 3: continuous linear calcifications). Seventeen percent of the patients with T2D presented with a high calcification score (i.e. 2 or 3), versus only 2% of the control subjects (p = 0.04). The mean number of pancreas-bound branches among the greater pancreatic artery, dorsal pancreatic artery and inferior pancreatic artery (from 0 to 3) was lower in patients with T2D than in control subjects (1.1 vs 1.7, p = 0.003). The mean number of visible intrapancreatic arterial subdivisions (from 0 to 2) was lower in patients with T2D than in control subjects (0.7 vs 1.3, p = 0.0017). All these differences hold true using multivariate logistic regression. None of these differences correlated with the duration of diabetes. The relationship between pancreas volume and BMI seen in control subjects was not confirmed in patients with T2D. Conversely, in patients with T2D but not in control subjects, the splenic artery diameter correlated with the pancreas volume.ConclusionsPatients with T2D present with more calcifications of the splenic artery and with a less dense pancreatic arterial tree than control subjects.