Arterial supply to the pancreas; variations and cross-sectional anatomy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC. 2010;35:134-142. [PMID: 19777288 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-009-9581-0]

Fortuitous discovery of a superior and posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery originating from the right branch of the hepatic artery during cadaver dissection

INTRODUCTION

The duodeno-pancreatic region is a highly vascularized area. The superior and posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery is a vessel primarily originating from the gastroduodenal artery. It exhibits rare anatomical variations, such as its emergence from the right branch of the hepatic artery, which we fortuitously identified during a cadaver dissection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The body studied in this dissection was from cadavers donated to science at the Anatomy Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine in Amiens. This dissection was part of a Master's project aimed at studying the branches of the celiac trunk.

RESULTS

We identified a superior and posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery arising from the right branch of the hepatic artery, coursing to the right of the gastroduodenal artery and sharing a very proximal anastomotic branch that gave rise to seven short retro-duodenal arteries. This artery provided branches to the bile duct and then ran along the duodenum and the pancreas while giving off about ten small branches to these two adjacent organs. It anastomosed with the posterior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, which originated from the superior mesenteric artery.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of this anatomical variation is fundamental for the visceral surgeon performing a cephalic duodenopancreatectomy, a resection of the pancreatic head with preservation of the duodenal framework, a resection of the pancreatic head with pancreatic-jejunostomy, or even in managing a hemorrhagic duodenal ulcer. This aberrant origin of the superior and posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery should also be known by the interventional radiologist during arterial embolizations related to the rupture of pseudoaneurysms of the pancreatic arcades.

Comparative outcomes of parenchyma-sparing repeat pancreatectomy vs completion pancreatectomy: impact on endocrine function and diabetes management

BACKGROUND

Although completion pancreatectomy (CP) is the standard approach for repeat pancreatectomy of secondary pancreatic tumors, the incidence of postoperative endocrine insufficiency is high. Parenchyma-sparing repeat pancreatectomy (PSRP) can preserve this function. However, its feasibility and long-term outcomes have not been evaluated. This study compared short-term outcomes and long-term endocrine pancreatic function between PSRP and CP.

METHODS

Consecutive patients who underwent a second pancreatectomy between April 2005 and March 2024 at 2 high-volume centers were included. This study compared the short- and long-term outcomes between the PSRP and CP groups. Serum hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels 6 months after surgery and the occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes were evaluated as indicators of endocrine function.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients (11 in the PSRP group and 19 in the CP group) were included. The 2 groups showed no significant differences in the preoperative or intraoperative findings. None of the patients in the PSRP group experienced major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade of ≥III), whereas 4 patients (21%) in the CP group experienced major morbidity. HbA1c levels and the requirement for insulin therapy were significantly lower in the PSRP group than in the CP group (6.2% vs 7.6% [P <.001] and 27.0% vs 100.0% [P <.001], respectively). Hypoglycemic episodes were observed only in the CP group (4 patients).

CONCLUSION

PSRP might have favorable short-term outcomes and better long-term endocrine function than CP.

Anatomical Variants in Pancreatic Irrigation and Their Clinical Considerations for the Pancreatic Approach and Surrounding Structures: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives: The pancreas receives blood through a complex network of multiple branches, primarily originating from the celiac trunk (CeT) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). This blood supply is structured into three main arterial groups, each serving different regions of the pancreas to effectively support its endocrine and exocrine functions. Materials and Methods: The databases Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Latin American and the Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS) were searched until January 2025. Methodological quality was evaluated using an assurance tool for anatomical studies (AQUA). Pooled prevalence was estimated using a random effects model. Results: A total of sixteen studies met the established selection criteria in this study for meta-analysis. Pancreatic irrigation variants presented a prevalence of 11.2% (CI: 7-14%) and a heterogeneity of 88.2%. The other studies were analyzed by subgroups, showing statistically significant differences in the following subgroups: (1) sample type-a larger sample of images analyzed in the included studies (p = 0.312), which did not show statistically significant differences; (2) geographical region (p = 0.041), which showed a greater presence in the Asian population studied, and this was statistically significant; and (3) sex (male or female) (p = 0.12), where there were no statistically significant differences. Conclusions: The discovery of variations in pancreatic irrigation is common due to the numerous blood vessels involved in supplying this vital organ. Understanding different vascular patterns (such as those from the splenic and mesenteric arteries) is crucial for surgical interventions on the pancreas. For transplant patients, a thorough vascular analysis of both the donor and recipient is essential. Variations can impact blood flow and compatibility, potentially leading to transplant rejection if not addressed. To enhance outcomes, it is recommended to develop more accurate imaging tools for pre-surgical analysis, necessitating ongoing research in this area.

A rare case of replaced right hepatic artery with direct aortic origin described angiographically during trans-arterial radioembolization

Normal hepatic arterial anatomy consists of the right hepatic artery and left hepatic artery branching from the common hepatic artery. Despite this being the most common configuration, many variations have been described. Here, we present a rare variant of hepatic arterial anatomy- a replaced right hepatic artery with direct aortic origin. Additionally, the patient was found to have a dorsal pancreatic artery originating from the replaced right hepatic artery This was angiographically identified during mapping for transarterial radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. The unique anatomy in this case and the effect it had on transarterial radioembolization planning described herein demonstrates the necessity of understanding variant hepatic arterial anatomy in endovascular hepatic interventions.

Reproducibility and reliability of pancreatic pharmacokinetic parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

BACKGROUND

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) with an extended Tofts linear (ETL) model for tissue and tumor evaluation has been established, but its effectiveness in evaluating the pancreas remains uncertain.

PURPOSE

To understand the pharmacokinetics of normal pancreas and serve as a reference for future studies of pancreatic diseases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Pancreatic pharmacokinetic parameters of 54 volunteers were calculated using DCE-MRI with the ETL model. First, intra- and inter-observer reliability was assessed through the use of the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CoV). Second, a subgroup analysis of the pancreatic DCE-MRI pharmacokinetic parameters was carried out by dividing the 54 individuals into three groups based on the pancreatic region, three groups based on age, and two groups based on sex.

RESULTS

There was excellent agreement and low variability of intra- and inter-observer to pancreatic DCE-MRI pharmacokinetic parameters. The intra- and inter-observer ICCs of Ktrans, kep, ve, and vp were 0.971, 0.952, 0.959, 0.944 and 0.947, 0.911, 0.978, 0.917, respectively. The intra- and inter-observer CoVs of Ktrans, kep, ve, vp were 9.98%, 5.99%, 6.47%, 4.76% and 10.15%, 5.22%, 6.28%, 5.40%, respectively. Only the pancreatic ve of the older group was higher than that of the young and middle-aged groups (P = 0.042, 0.001), and the vp of the pancreatic head was higher than that of the pancreatic body and tail (P = 0.014, 0.043).

CONCLUSION

The application of DCE-MRI with an ETL model provides a reliable, robust, and reproducible means of non-invasively quantifying pancreatic pharmacokinetic parameters.

Morphology of the Dorsal Pancreatic Artery and Its Oncological Significance in Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVES

Although the dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) is an important artery that supplies the pancreas, its morphology has not been sufficiently studied. We investigated the morphology of the DPA and the progression of pancreatic cancer along this vessel.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Overall, 142 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent surgical resection at Kanazawa University Hospital between 2004 and 2015 were enrolled. We examined the morphology of the DPA using preoperative computed tomography and cancer progression along the DPA using resected specimens. We investigated the anatomical structures surrounding the DPA through cadaveric examination.

RESULTS

The analysis of computed tomography images revealed the presence of the DPA in 141 patients. In typical cases, the DPA divides into a head and a body branch. Histopathological examination revealed cancer progression along the DPA in 32 patients. Cancer progression along the DPA was identified as a factor associated with a poor prognosis in pancreatic head or body cancer. Cadaveric examination showed the presence of abundant nerve and lymphatic tissues along the DPA.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to remove the soft tissue surrounding the DPA during surgery for pancreatic head or body cancer because it may serve as an important route for cancer progression.

Anatomical basis for pancreas transplantation via isolated splenic artery perfusion: A literature review

The variability of vascular anatomy of the pancreas underlines the difficulty of its transplantation. Research regarding the consistency of anatomical variations shows splenic arterial dominance in most cases. This can significantly improve transplantation success. A systematic literature review was performed according to the quality standards described in the AMSTAR measurement tool and the PRISMA guidelines. We valuated existing literature regarding the vascularization and blood perfusion patterns of the pancreas in terms of dominance and variability. The collected data was independently analyzed by two researchers. Variance of vascular anatomy was seen to be underreported in literature, though significant findings have been included and discussed in this study, providing valuable insight into the dynamics of pancreatic perfusion and feasibility of transplantation on several different supplying arteries. The splenic artery (SA) has a high percentage of consistency in all found studies (over 90%). High frequency of anastomoses between arterial pools supplying the pancreas can mediate sufficient blood supply through a dominant vessel, such as the SA, which is present in most cases. Pancreatic transplantation with isolated SA blood supply can provide sufficient arterial perfusion of the pancreas for stable transplant viability due to high anatomical consistency of the SA and vast communications with other arterial systems.

Dual-energy CT with virtual monoenergetic images to improve the visualization of pancreatic supplying arteries: the normal anatomy and variations

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a malignancy with poor prognosis, appropriate surgical resection and neoadjuvant therapy depend on the accurate identification of pancreatic supplying arteries. We aim to evaluate the ability of monoenergetic images (MEI [+]) of dual-energy CT (DECT) to improve the visualization of pancreatic supplying arteries compared to conventional polyenergetic images (PEI) and investigate the implications of vascular variation in pancreatic surgery and transarterial interventions.

Results

One hundred patients without pancreatic diseases underwent DECT examinations were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) at 40-keV MEI (+) were significantly higher than those of PEI (p < 0.05). All subjective MEI (+) scores were significantly higher than those of PEI (p < 0.05). The visualization rates were significantly higher for posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PSPDA), anterior and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (AIPDA, PIPDA), anterior and posterior pancreaticoduodenal arcade (APAC, PPAC), transverse and caudal pancreatic artery (TPA, PCA) at 40-keV MEI (+) than those of PEI (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences for visualizing anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (ASPDA), inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA), dorsal and magnificent pancreatic artery (DPA, MPA) between 40-keV MEI (+) and PEI (p > 0.05). Four types of variations were observed in the origin of DPA and three to five types in the origin of PSPDA, AIPDA and PIPDA.

Conclusions

40-keV MEI (+) of DECT improves the visualization and objective and subjective image quality of pancreatic supplying arteries compared to PEI. Pancreatic supplying arteries have great variations, which has important implications for preoperative planning of technically challenging surgeries and transarterial interventions.

Arterial Administration of DNA Crosslinking Agents with Restraint of Homologous Recombination Repair by Intravenous Low-Dose Gemcitabine Is Effective for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Simple Summary

Pancreatic cancer is considered incurable, and most cases are detected in the advanced stages. Establishing a new, effective interventional treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer is a pressing issue. Pretreatment with gemcitabine had a restraining effect on the homologous DNA recombination repair (HRR) of DNA crosslinking, inhibiting the function of Rad51, of which expression is found to be increased in pancreatic cancer. The aim of our prospective study was to assess the potential value of the arterial administration of DNA crosslinking agents after intravenous administration of low-dose gemcitabine for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. We confirmed, among forty-five patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer, that a patient subgroup of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC, 10 patients) who underwent these treatment courses successively more than twice in the first 6 months had 33 months of overall survival, 31 months of local progression free survival, and a complete response of 40%. This treatment can be a new treatment option for LAPC.

Abstract

(1) Background: Pretreatment by Rad51-inhibitory substances such as gemcitabine followed by arterial chemotherapy using antineoplastic agents causing DNA crosslink might be more beneficial for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancers than conventional treatments. The efficacy of arterial administration of DNA crosslinking agents with pretreatment of intravenous low-dose gemcitabine for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer (LAPC or MPC) is evaluated. (2) Methods: A single-arm, single-center, institutional review board-approved prospective study was conducted between 2005 and 2015. Forty-five patients (23 LAPC, 22 MPC) were included. Patients received a weekly low dose of gemcitabine intravenously for three weeks followed by arterial administration of mitomycin C and epirubicin hydrochloride at tumor-supplying arteries on the fifth or sixth week. This treatment course was repeated at 1.5-to-2-month intervals. Overall survival (OS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), and therapeutic response were evaluated. LAPC or MPC were divided according to treatment compliance, excellent or poor (1 or 2), to subgroups L1, L2, M1, and M2. (3) Results: OS of LAPC and MPC were 23 months and 13 months, respectively. The OS of LAPC with excellent treatment compliance (subgroup L1, 10 patients) was 33 months with 31 months of LPFS, and four patients (40%) had a complete response (CR). The OS of the L1 subgroup was significantly longer than those of other subgroups L2, M1, and M2, which were 17 months, 17 months, and 8 months, respectively. As Grade 3 adverse effects, severe bone marrow suppression, interstitial pneumonitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome were observed in six (13.0%), three (6.5%), and three (6.5%) patients, respectively. (4) Conclusions: Arterial DNA crosslinking with the systemic restraint of homologous recombination repair can be a new treatment option for LAPC.

A Clinical Overview of Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis: The Medical and Surgical Management

An inflammatory process involving the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, can be categorized as either acute or chronic and may present in one of many ways. The clinical manifestations of acute pancreatitis are generally limited to epigastric or right upper quadrant pain, while manifestations of chronic pancreatitis are broader and may include abdominal pain in tandem with signs and symptoms of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine insufficiency. An understanding of the initial insult, proper classification, and prognosis are all factors that are of paramount importance as it pertains to managing patients who are afflicted with this disease. Our review delves into the depths of pancreatitis by exploring the embryology and anatomy of the pancreas, the pathophysiology and etiology of acute and chronic pancreatitis, and the medical and surgical management of acute and chronic pancreatitis.

Major and minor complications of the pancreas after transcatheter arterial embolization using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate for acute bleeding from pancreatic arteries

PURPOSE

The purpose is to investigate the major and minor complications of the pancreas after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for bleeding from pancreatic arteries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-three patients who underwent TAE using NBCA for acute bleeding from pancreatic arteries and their parent arteries followed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) were evaluated retrospectively. Complications and risk factors were assessed using Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher's exact test for the univariate analysis. Patients' characteristic, embolized artery, procedure details, and clinical outcomes were examined as possible risk factors.

RESULTS

TAE was performed successfully in all patients. Minor pancreatic complications occurred in 10 patients (30%), including acute mild pancreatitis (n = 4) and focal lack of pancreatic parenchymal enhancement on CE-CT without pancreatitis (n = 6). No cases of major pancreatic complications, such as moderate/severe pancreatitis, were reported. Embolized artery was the only significant risk factor. The rate of complications per embolized artery were 15% (three out of 20 patients) in the arteries of the pancreatic head and 54% (seven out of 13 patients) in the arteries of pancreatic body and tail (p = 0.025).

CONCLUSION

TAE using NBCA for acute bleeding from pancreatic arteries is efficacious and safe. Mild pancreatic complications were observed more frequently in case of embolization of the pancreatic body and tail region than the pancreatic head.

Surgical resection of a ruptured transverse pancreatic artery aneurysm

Background

Visceral artery aneurysms are rare, but they may cause heavy bleeding and high mortality. In addition, aneurysms originating from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) account for only 1% of visceral artery aneurysms. We report the rare case of a ruptured transverse pancreatic artery aneurysm originating from the SMA that required urgent surgical treatment.

Case presentation

A 66-year-old woman presented with acute back pain after lunch, and she was transported by ambulance. She had upper quadrant spontaneous pain and moderate tenderness, but no guarding or rebound pain. She had rheumatoid arthritis, and was taking 10 mg of steroids per day. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a retroperitoneal hematoma spreading to the ventral side of the left kidney and extravasation of contrast agent from a branch of the SMA. We diagnosed rupture of aneurysm. We conferred with our IVR team on treatment strategy for the ruptured aneurysm. In addition, we finally selected operation, since the branch of the SMA to the aneurysm was too thin and complex to conduct IVR. For this reason, we performed emergency simple aneurysmectomy of the transverse pancreatic artery. The postoperative course was relatively smooth.

Conclusion

Rupture of a transverse pancreatic artery aneurysm originating from the SMA is rare. However, when diagnosing patients with acute abdomen or back pain, we should consider rupture of a visceral artery aneurysm. Endovascular treatment may currently be common for ruptured visceral artery aneurysms, but we should flexibly treat them according to the patient’s condition and facility considerations.

Anatomy of peripancreatic arteries and pancreaticoduodenal arterial arcades in the human pancreas: a cadaveric study

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the arteries supplying the pancreaticoduodenal (PD) complex.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted on 15 fresh enbloc pancreatic specimens by latex injection method which enabled the visualization of the peripancreatic arteries and their minute branches.

RESULTS

The gastroduodenal (GDA), anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal (ASPD), and anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal (AIPD) artery was found in all the cases, whereas the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal (PSPD) and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal (PIPD) artery was present in 93.34% cases. The ASPD artery originated from GDA in all the cases. Two types of variations were observed in the origin of PSPD artery and four types each in the origin of AIPD and PIPD artery. Anatomical and numerical variations were observed in both anterior and posterior arches, posterior arch being absent in 20% cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, an attempt was made to systematically describe the individual arterial configurations of the PD complex. The information provided here has important implications for preoperative planning of technically challenging surgeries and interventions around the pancreatic head.

New advances in CT imaging of pancreas diseases: a narrative review

Computed tomography (CT) plays a pivotal role as a diagnostic tool in many diagnostic and diffuse pancreatic diseases. One of the major limits of CT is related to the radiation exposure of young patients undergoing repeated examinations. Besides the standard CT protocol, the most recent technological advances, such as low-voltage acquisitions with high performance X-ray tubes and iterative reconstructions, allow for significant optimization of the protocol with dose reduction. The variety of CT tools are further expanded by the introduction of dual energy: the production of energy-selective images (i.e., virtual monochromatic images) improves the image contrast and lesion detection while the material-selective images (e.g., iodine maps or virtual unenhanced images) are valuable for lesion detection and dose reduction. The perfusion techniques provide diagnostic and prognostic information lesion and parenchymal vascularization and interstitium. Both dual energy and perfusion CT have the potential for pushing the limits of conventional CT from morphological evaluation to quantitative imaging applied to inflammatory and oncological diseases. Advances in post-processing of CT images, such as pancreatic volumetry, texture analysis and radiomics provide relevant information for pancreatic function but also for the diagnosis, management and prognosis of pancreatic neoplasms. Artificial intelligence is promising for optimization of the workflow in qualitative and quantitative analyses. Finally, basic concepts on the role of imaging on screening of pancreatic diseases will be provided.

Dorsal Pancreatic Artery—a Study of Its Detailed Anatomy for Safe Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Early division of the dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) or its branches to the uncinate process during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in addition to early division of the gastroduodenal artery and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery should be performed to reduce blood loss by completely avoiding venous congestion. However, the significance of early division of DPA or its branches to the uncinate process has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of DPA and its branches to the uncinate process using the currently available high-resolution dynamic computed tomography (CT) as the first step to investigate the significance of DPA in the artery-first approach during PD. Preoperative dynamic thin-slice CT data of 160 consecutive patients who underwent hepato–pancreato–biliary surgery were examined focusing on the anatomy of DPA and its branches to the uncinate process. DPA was recognized in 103 patients (64%); it originated from the celiac axis or its branches in 70 patients and from the superior mesenteric artery or its branches in 34 patients. The branches to the uncinate process were visualized in 82 patients (80% of those with DPA), with diameters of 0.5–1.5 mm in approximately 80% of the 82 patients irrespective of DPA origin. DPA branches to the uncinate process were recognized using high-resolution CT in approximately half of the patients.

Predictive factors for postoperative pancreatitis after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A single-center retrospective analysis of 1465 patients

BACKGROUND

Postoperative acute pancreatitis (POAP) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has been recently recognized as an independent complication that is associated with undesirable postoperative outcomes and often precedes other complications, yet predictive factors attributable to POAP after PD remain elusive.

METHODS

The data from 1465 consecutive patients who underwent laparotomy or minimally invasive robotic PD from March 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. POAP was defined as an elevation of the serum amylase levels above the institution's normal upper limit (100 U/L) on postoperative day (POD) 1. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the predictive factors for POAP after PD and the association between POAP and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistulas (CR-POPFs).

RESULTS

Among the 1465 patients, 411 (28%) underwent minimally invasive robotic surgeries, and the overall POAP and CR-POPFs rates were 770 (53%) and 277 (19%), respectively. The female sex (OR 1.76), a normal bilirubin level (OR 1.55), the robotic surgery (OR 1.36), a main pancreatic duct (MPD) ≤3 mm (OR 5.69) and a high-risk nonadenocarcinoma pathology (cystic disease: OR 4.33; pNETs: OR 4.34; others: OR 2.74) were considered independent risk factors for POAP. A nondilated MPD was a predominant predictor for POAP, with 72.2% sensitivity and 71.8% specificity. POAP was also an independent predictive factor for CR-POPFs (OR 3.48).

CONCLUSION

A nondilated MPD, a high-risk pathology, the female sex, a normal bilirubin level and the robotic surgery were independent predictive factors for POAP after PD. Prevention and early treatment strategy changes can be made based on these preoperative predictive factors.

A Study Comparing the Effects of Targeted Intra-Arterial and Systemic Chemotherapy in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer

Systemic chemotherapy is the first line treatment for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, however, insufficient drug delivery to the pancreas is a major problem resulting in poor outcomes. We evaluated the therapeutic effects of targeted intra-arterial (IA) delivery of gemcitabine directly into the pancreas in an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Nude mice with orthotopic pancreatic tumors were randomly assigned into 3 groups receiving gemcitabine: systemic intravenous (IV) injection (low: 0.3 mg/kg and high: 100 mg/kg) and direct IA injection (0.3 mg/kg). Treatments were administered weekly for 2 weeks. IA treatment resulted in a significantly greater reduction in tumor growth compared to low IV treatment. To achieve a comparable reduction in tumor growth as seen with IA treatment, gemcitabine had to be given IV at over 300x the dose (high IV treatment) which was associated with some toxicity. After 2 weeks, tumor samples from animals treated with IA gemcitabine had significantly lower residual cancer cells, higher cellular necrosis and evidence of increased apoptosis when compared to animals treated with low IV gemcitabine. Our study shows targeted IA injection of gemcitabine directly into the pancreas, via its arterial blood supply, has a superior therapeutic effect in reducing tumor growth compared to the same concentration administered by conventional systemic injection.

Mechanistic Links Between Obesity, Diabetes, and Blood Pressure: Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue

Obesity is increasingly prevalent and is associated with substantial cardiovascular risk. Adipose tissue distribution and morphology play a key role in determining the degree of adverse effects, and a key factor in the disease process appears to be the inflammatory cell population in adipose tissue. Healthy adipose tissue secretes a number of vasoactive adipokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and changes to this secretory profile will contribute to pathogenesis in obesity. In this review, we discuss the links between adipokine dysregulation and the development of hypertension and diabetes and explore the potential for manipulating adipose tissue morphology and its immune cell population to improve cardiovascular health in obesity.

The Arterial Supply of the Distal Part of the Pancreas

The pancreatic surgery field has evolved greatly over the previous years. Nevertheless, the vascularization of the pancreas remains a difficult subject and requires further attention. The study was conducted using macroscopical dissection and corrosion cast methods. The total number of organ blocks was 72 (50 for dissection and 22 for corrosion cast). Based on the data obtained by dissection, we can distinguish three major types of vascularization of the distal pancreas. In type one, the pancreas was vascularized only by the short branches of the splenic artery and was encountered in 18 cases (36%). In type two, the pancreas was vascularized by the long and short branches of the splenic artery and was encountered in 20 cases (40%). In type three, the pancreas was vascularized only by the long branches of the splenic artery in 12 cases (24%). Compared to that, the corrosion cast method demonstrated type 1 in 8 cases (36.36%), type 2 in 10 cases (45.46%), and type 3 in 4 cases (18.18%). During the dissection, there were no arteries to the tail of the pancreas in 13 (26%) cases, one artery in 15 (30%) cases, two arteries in 19 (38%), and three arteries in three (6%) cases. The 22 corrosion cast specimens were also evaluated based on the classification of Roman Ramos and coworkers. Type I (small arcades) was in 9 (40.90%) cases, type II (small and large arcades) was in 7 (31.82%) cases, type III (large arcades) was in 5 (22.73%) cases, and type IV (straight branches) was in 1 (4.55%) case. The corrosion cast method allowed us to determine no arteries to the tail in 4 (18.18%) cases, one artery in 6 (27.27%) cases, two arteries in 10 (45.46%) cases and three arteries in two (9.09%) cases. The vascularization of the distal part of the pancreas is highly variable and should be taken into consideration during surgery.

Review of proximal splenic artery embolization in blunt abdominal trauma

The spleen is the most commonly injured organ in blunt abdominal trauma. Unstable patients undergo laparotomy and splenectomy. Stable patients with lower grade injuries are treated conservatively; those stable patients with moderate to severe splenic injuries (grade III-V) benefit from endovascular splenic artery embolization. Two widely used embolization approaches are proximal and distal splenic artery embolization. Proximal splenic artery embolization decreases the perfusion pressure in the spleen but allows for viability of the spleen to be maintained via collateral pathways. Distal embolization can be used in cases of focal injury. In this article we review relevant literature on splenic embolization indication, and technique, comparing and contrasting proximal and distal embolization. Additionally, we review relevant anatomy and discuss collateral perfusion pathways following proximal embolization. Finally, we review potential complications of splenic artery embolization.

Pancreas Transplantation: Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes

Pancreas transplantation treats insulin-dependent diabetes with or without concurrent end-stage renal disease. Pancreas transplantation increases survival versus no transplant, increases survival when performed as simultaneous pancreas-kidney versus deceased-donor kidney alone, and improves quality of life. Careful donor and recipient selection are paramount to good outcomes. Several technical variations exist for implantation: portal versus systemic vascular drainage and jejunal versus duodenal versus bladder exocrine drainage. Complications are most frequently technical in the first year and immunologic thereafter. Graft rejection is challenging to diagnose and is treated selectively. Islet cell transplantation currently has inferior outcomes to whole-organ pancreas transplantation.

A Novel Approach for Therapeutic Delivery to the Rodent Pancreas Via Its Arterial Blood Supply

OBJECTIVES

Endovascular techniques can now access the arterial blood supply of the pancreas in humans to enable therapeutics to reach the gland in high concentrations while concurrently avoiding issues related to non-targeted delivery. However, there is no way to replicate this in small animals. In a rat model, we therefore developed a novel non-terminal technique to deliver therapeutics to different regions of the pancreas, via its arterial blood supply.

METHODS

In female Wistar rats, selective branches of the celiac artery were temporarily ligated, depending on the region of the pancreas being targeted. Trypan blue dye was then administered as a surrogate marker for a therapeutic agent, via the celiac artery, and its staining/distribution throughout the pancreas determined. Postoperatively, animals were monitored daily, and serum was evaluated for markers of pancreatitis, liver, and metabolic function.

RESULTS

Using this technique, we could selectively target the head, body/tail, or entire gland of the pancreas, via its arterial blood supply, with minimal nontarget staining. Following the procedure, all animals recovered with no evidence of pancreatitis or liver/metabolic dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates a novel technique that can be used to selectively deliver therapeutics directly to the rat pancreas in a safe manner with full recovery of the animal.

Advances in Pancreatic CT Imaging

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to discuss the advances in CT acquisition and image postprocessing as they apply to imaging the pancreas and to conceptualize the role of radiogenomics and machine learning in pancreatic imaging.

CONCLUSION

CT is the preferred imaging modality for assessment of pancreatic diseases. Recent advances in CT (dual-energy CT, CT perfusion, CT volumetry, and radiogenomics) and emerging computational algorithms (machine learning) have the potential to further increase the value of CT in pancreatic imaging.

Aortic Dissection Presenting as Acute Pancreatitis: Suspecting the Unexpected

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition in which the inner layer of the aorta tears. Blood surges through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate (dissect). It is considered a medical emergency. We report a case of a healthy 56-year-old male who presented to the emergency room with sudden onset of epigastric pain radiating to his back. His blood pressure was 167/91 mmHg, equal in both arms. His lipase was elevated at 1258 U/L, and he was clinically diagnosed with acute pancreatitis (AP). He denied any alcohol consumption, had no evidence for gallstones, and had normal triglyceride level. Two days later, he endorsed new suprapubic tenderness radiating to his scrotum, along with worsening epigastric pain. A MRCP demonstrated evidence of an aortic dissection (AD). CT angiography demonstrated a Stanford type B AD extending into the proximal common iliac arteries. His aortic dissection was managed medically with rapid blood pressure control. The patient had excellent recovery and was discharged home without any surgical intervention.

Novel contrast-injection protocol for high-resolution abdominal CT-angiography: vascular visualization improvement with vasodilator

PURPOSE

To evaluate the usefulness of a novel contrast-injection protocol for high-resolution abdominal computed tomography angiography (CTA) using nitroglycerin (NTG).

METHODS

Abdominal CTA was performed in 80 patients using two 64-detector-row CT scanners. Forty patients were examined after administration of sublingual NTG (NTG group), while 40 were examined without NTG administration (non-NTG group). Arterial phase images were acquired with maximum intensity projection and volume rendering. Reduction rates: vessel cross-sectional areas ratio of 10 cm distal to origin at the superior mesenteric artery, contrast enhancements, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were assessed. Three reviewers evaluated degree of depiction of the peripancreatic vasculature using a four-point scale (1 = poor, 4 = excellent).

RESULTS

Reduction rates were significantly lower in the NTG group (P < 0.001), while there were no significant differences in contrast enhancements, SNR, or CNR between groups. Visual evaluation results of the NTG group were significantly better than those of the non-NTG group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Abdominal CTA using NTG improved visualization of the abdominal peripheral vessels. This improved arterial view may be beneficial for preoperative evaluation of the arterial anatomy.

Vascular disrupting agent in pancreatic and hepatic tumour allografts: observations of location-dependent efficacy by MRI, microangiography and histomorphology

BACKGROUND

Tumours growing in organs of different vascular environment could exhibit diverse responses to vascular disrupting agent (VDA). This study was aimed to identify in vivo imaging biomarkers for evaluation of pancreatic and hepatic tumours and comparison of their responses to a VDA Combretastatin A4 Phosphate (CA4P) using multiparametric MRI.

METHODS

Male WAG/Rij rats were used for orthotopic pancreatic head tumour and hepatic tumour implantation; tumour growth was monitored by 3D isotropic MRI using a 3.0-T clinic scanner. Therapeutic intervention using CA4P was investigated by in vivo quantitative MRI measurements including T2/T1 relaxation mapping, diffusion kurtosis imaging and dynamic contrast-enhancement (DCE) imaging. Animals were scarified 10 h after CA4P treatment for ex vivo validation using microangiography and histomorphology.

RESULTS

State-of-the-art clinical MRI protocols were successfully adapted for imaging small animal tumour with high reliability. One hour after CA4P injection, marked vascular shutdown was detected with DCE MRI in both pancreatic and hepatic tumours. However, 10 h later, therapeutic necrosis was limited in pancreatic tumours compared with that in hepatic tumours (P<0.01). Heterogeneous therapeutic changes were depicted in tumour lesions using pixel-wise Tofts model, which was generated from dynamic T1 mapping. In addition, tumour responses including haemorrhage, oedema and necrosis were detected using quantitative T2/T1 relaxation maps and diffusion kurtosis images, and were validated using histomorphology.

CONCLUSIONS

Using multiparametric imaging biomarkers, hepatic tumours were found to be significantly more responsive to CA4P than pancreatic tumours, which could be of reference for designing future clinical trials on this agent.

The dorsal pancreatic artery in pancreas procurement and transplantation: anatomical considerations and potential implications

AIM

Organ procurement errors account for almost 20% of discarded pancreatic allografts. For this reason, the anatomical significance of the dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) was reviewed.

METHODS

A strategy on dealing with an often overlooked DPA is evaluated.

RESULTS

The DPA provides together with the splenic artery the main blood supply to the pancreatic tail. Three different arterial variations have been described. In the rare instances when the DPA arises from the common hepatic artery or the celiac trunk, instead of the splenic origin, the DPA can easily be overlooked by surgeons not familiar with this artery. This may result in an unintentional damage to the pancreatic tail blood supply. If unrecognized during the back-table inspection, it could potentially jeopardize the pancreatic graft after reperfusion. When a cut DPA is encountered during inspection, efforts should be attempted to revascularize the graft, especially if there is no backflow from the splenic artery as sign of absent collateral circulation.

CONCLUSION

The DPA may play a more prominent role in the vascularization of pancreas transplants than currently assumed. Better understanding of the vascular anatomy may lead to improved results in pancreas transplantation.

Laparoscopic duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection: A case report

BACKGROUND

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) of the pancreas are uncommon neoplasms and are potentially malignant. Complete resection is advised due to rare recurrence and metastasis. Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) is indicated for SPNs located in the pancreatic head and is only performed using the open approach. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports describing laparoscopic DPPHR (LDPPHR) for SPNs.

METHODS

Herein, we report a case of 41-year-old female presented with a 1-week history of epigastric abdominal discomfort, and founded an SPN of the pancreatic head by abdominal computed tomography/magnetic resonance, who was treated by radical LDPPHR without complications, such as pancreatic fistula and bile leakage. Histological examination of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis of SPN.

RESULTS

The patient was discharged 1 week after surgery following an uneventful postoperative period. She was followed up 3 months without readmission and local recurrence according to abdominal ultrasound.

CONCLUSION

LDPPHR is a safe, feasible, and effective surgical procedure for SPNs.

Clinical Efficacy of Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Stem cell therapy is a promising therapeutic modality for advanced diabetes mellitus (DM). This study presents a meta-analysis of relevant clinical trials to determine the efficacy of stem cell therapy in DM. We aim to critically evaluate and synthesize clinical evidence on the safety and efficiency of different types of stem cell therapy for both T1DM and T2DM.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We pooled participant-level data from twenty-two eligible clinical trials that satisfied our inclusion criteria, with a total of 524 patients. There were significant differences in the outcome based on the type and source of the infused cells. Out of all T1DM patients who received CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) infusion, 58.9% became insulin independent for a mean period of 16 months, whereas the results were uniformly negative in patients who received umbilical cord blood (UCB). Infusion of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) provided significantly beneficial outcome in T1DM, when compared to bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) (P<0.0001 and P = 0.1557). Administration of stem cell therapy early after DM diagnosis was more effective than intervention at later stages (relative risk = 2.0, P = 0.0008). Adverse effects were observed in only 21.72% of both T1DM and T2DM stem cell recipients with no reported mortality. Out of all poor responders, 79.5% were diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Stem cell transplantation can represent a safe and effective treatment for selected patients with DM. In this cohort of trials, the best therapeutic outcome was achieved with CD34+ HSC therapy for T1DM, while the poorest outcome was observed with HUCB for T1DM. Diabetic ketoacidosis impedes therapeutic efficacy.

Anatomical variation and its management in transplantation

Variant anatomy may be challenging at retrieval, with failure to identify variance being associated with organ damage, particularly vascular damage. On implantation, some variants demand nonstandard techniques of reconstruction or implantation. This review covers the common and less common anatomical variants of the liver, kidney and pancreas, and gives guidance as to how they may be managed during organ retrieval and implantation.

Superselective peripancreatic arterial catheterization for infusion of autologous bone stem cells in diabetic patients: An analysis of 24 cases

AIM: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of superselective peripancreatic arterial catheterization for infusion of autologous bone marrow stem cells in diabetic patients.

METHODS: A total of 24 patients with diabetes mellitus underwent celiac trunk, hepatic artery and splenic artery angiography, and peripancreatic arteries, which origin from these arteries, were carefully evaluated. One of these peripancreatic arteries was superselectively catheterized with a coaxial microcatheter. After the microcatheter reached the peripancreatic artery, autologous bone marrow stem cells were slowly injected into the artery transcatheterly. For distorted or small peripancreatic arteries that made catheterization difficult, balloon-assisted infusion of autologous bone marrow stem cells was utilized. Success rate, time required for the procedure and complications were evaluated.

RESULTS: Superselective peripancreatic arterial catheterization was successful in 23 of 24 patients, with a success rate of 95.8%. Superselective catheterization of the dorsal pancreatic artery was performed in 7 cases, the great pancreatic artery in 8 cases, the caudal pancreatic artery in 4 cases and the pancreatic artery supplying pancreatic head in 4 cases. The patient with the failed procedure was converted to balloon-assisted infusion of stem cells. Complications such as spasm, perforation, dissection, vascular occlusion and thrombosis were not observed. The time required for the procedure ranged from 25 to 190 min, with a median value of 55 min.

CONCLUSION: Superselective peripancreatic arterial catheterization is a safe and feasible method for infusion of autologous bone marrow stem cells in diabetic patients.

Multidetector CT evaluation of the postoperative pancreas

Several pancreatic diseases may require surgical treatment, with most of these procedures classified as resection or drainage. Resection procedures, which are usually performed to remove pancreatic tumors, include pancreatoduodenectomy, central pancreatectomy, distal pancreatectomy, and total pancreatectomy. Drainage procedures are usually performed to treat chronic pancreatitis after the failure of medical therapy and include the Puestow and Frey procedures. The type of surgery depends not only on the patient's symptoms and the location of the disease, but also on the expertise of the surgeon. Radiologists should become familiar with these surgical procedures to better understand postoperative changes in anatomic findings. Multidetector computed tomography is the modality of choice for identifying normal findings after surgery, postoperative complications, and tumor recurrence in patients who have undergone pancreatic surgery.

Imaging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: update on staging/resectability

Because of the evolution of treatment strategies staging criteria for pancreatic cancer now emphasize arterial involvement for determining unresectable disease. Preoperative therapy may improve the likelihood of margin negative resections of borderline resectable tumors. Cross-sectional imaging is crucial for correctly staging patients. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) are probably comparable, with MR imaging probably offering an advantage for identifying liver metastases. Positron emission tomography/CT and endoscopic ultrasound may be helpful for problem solving. Clear and concise reporting of imaging findings is important. Several national organizations are developing templates to standardize the reporting of imaging findings.

Acute ischemic pancreatitis associated with acute type B aortic dissection: a case report

A 47 year-old man, presenting with sudden back pain in the absence of abdominal discomfort, was diagnosed with acute type B aortic dissection which extended to the celiac and the splenic arteries. Antihypertensive treatment was initiated. However, he subsequently complained of upper abdominal pain with increased amylase levels. Computed tomography scan (CT) revealed new accumulation of peripancreatic fluid with no signs of further aortic or visceral dissection. A protease inhibitor was administered for mild acute pancreatitis. Follow-up CT demonstrated disappearance of thrombosed false lumen of the splenic artery and reduction of the effusion. The patient was discharged without any surgical interventions.

Transcatheter embolization of a type II endoleak after hybrid repair for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

Hybrid stent-graft procedures with visceral revascularization have been reported as an alternative treatment option for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs), although the potential advantages of reduced morbidity and mortality compared with open surgical repair have not been definitively demonstrated. Endovascular aneurysm repair is associated with endoleaks in as many as 20% of cases in some series, often requiring repeat intervention. In the present case, during follow-up after a hybrid TAAA repair, a patient developed a type II endoleak originating from a celiac artery that was not ligated at its origin. The endoleak was successfully treated by transcatheter coil embolization.