A study of hepato-pancreatic artery with DSA and its significance in transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the anatomic characteristics of hepato-pancreatic artery (HPA) by DSA and its significance in preventing pancreatic complications after transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: 1000 cases of hepatic arteriograms have been retrospectively reviewed. The aberrant pancreatic arteries that originate from proper hepatic artery (PHA) and all distal intrahepatic branches to PHA were called hepato-pancreatic arteries. The incidence of HPA has been summed up and its anatomic characteristics such as origin, course, branches and distribution have been described. Results: Of 1000 cases, HPA were found in 16 cases (1.6%). There were 2 branches of HPA in one case and there was only one branch of HPA in other 15 cases. Altogether 17 branches of HPA were found; of which, 7 branches originated from PHA (41.2%, 7/17), 6 branches arose from right hepatic artery (RHA) (35.3%, 6/17) and 4 branches came from left hepatic artery (LHA) (23.5%, 4/17). Conclusions: HPA is a kind of rare variations of pancreatic artery. The importance at avoid embolizing HPA during TACE is preventing pancreatic complications