ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS OF RIGHT COLIC ARTERY, THE MIDDLE COLIC ARTERY ORIGINATING DIRECTLY FROM AORTA: CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Nguyên Hưng Thái1, , Diệp Anh Thái2
1 Bệnh viện K
2 Trường Đại học Y Hà Nội

Main Article Content

Abstract

Study aim:


1. Case report of anatomical variations of Right Colic Artery and Middle Colic Artery.


2. Literature Review.


Result:


Female 80 year old patient.


Medical history: Diabetes mellitus.


Hospitalization for subobstruction of right colic cancer.


Symptoms: Abdominal pain in right upper and lower abdominal areas without vomiting and fever.


Physical examination revealed mass palpable in right upper area of abdomen


CTScan revealed: Tumor measuring 60-87 mm at hepatic flexure of right colon.


Colonoscopy showed: Intra luminal tumor of right colon that makes stricture of colic lumen .


Laboratory findings: Normal limits excepted high blood glucose.


Intra operating findings: Tumor at hepatic flexure of colon measuring 8-8 cm in diameter (T4N2M0 grade). There were no right colic artery. The Middle colic artery (MCA) did not originate from a superior mesenteric artery. This Middle colic artery arise from post pancreatic aorta, running down and divided into 2 branches (left and right). The right branch anastomosed with ascending branches of ileocolic artery and the left branch anastomosed with ascending branches of left colic artery.


Surgical procedure: Right hemicolectomy, lymph node dissection, side to side anastomosis (2 layer).


Complication post operation: No complication


Histopathologic result: Mucinous adenocarcinoma (gradeT4aN0M0).


Conclusion: By special case report and Literature Review, we conclude that


Ileocolic artery was constantly present (100%) while the middle colic artery was present in 98-100% of cases. In contrast the rate of right colic artery presence was highly variable, ranging from 10,7%-63,3%.


The middle colic artery may arise from superior mesenteric artery and may originate from coeliac trunk, splenic artery, common hepatic artery or directly arise from aorta (post pancreas) or from aorta between superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery (as middle mesenteric artery). The findings (in this review) will strongly support the ileocolic pedicle as a landmark for starting laparoscopic safe dissection of mesocolon in medial to lateral technique.

Article Details

References

1. Steward JA, Rankin FW. Blood supply of the large intestin: Its surgical consideration. Archives of surgery 1933;:843-891.
2. Sonneland J, Anson BJ, Beaton LE. Surgical Anatomy of the arterial supply to the colon from the superior mesenteric artery based upon s study of 600 specimens. Surg -Gynecol Obstet 1959;: 385-398.
3. Garcia-Ruiz A, Milsomm JW, Ludwiga KA et al. Right colonic arterial anatomy. Implication for laparoscopic surgery. Dis Colon Rectum 1996; 906-911.
4. Michels N et al. The Variant Blood Supply to Small and Large: Its Import in Regional Resection. J INT Coll Surg 1963;:127-170.
5. Wu et al. Variation in right colic vascular anatomy observed during laparoscopic right colectomy. World Journal of Surgical Oncology (2019)17:16.
6. M.Haywood et al. The right colic artery: An anatomical demonstration and its relevance in the laparoscopic era. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2016Nov; 98 (8)560-563.
7. J.Alsabilah et al. Vascular structures of the right colon: incidence and variation with their clinical implication. Scandinavian Journal of Surgery 2017. 106 (2)107-115.
8. Thái Nguyên Hưng, Nguyễn Văn Huy, Phạm Văn Đông. Thay đổi giải phẫu của động mạch đại tràng giữa và động mạch đại tràng trái: Báo cáo loạt ca lâm sàng hiếm gặp và điểm lại Y văn. Y học Việt Nam tháng 7/2026.
9. Dương Bá Lập, Bùi Minh Tín. Các biến thể động mạch của đại tràng phải khảo sát qua phẫu thuật nội soi cắt toàn bộ mạc treo đại tràng. Tạp chí Y học lâm sàng Bệnh viện Trung ương Huế 94, 2024.