Celiacomesenteric Trunk: Importance of Recognizing a Rare Vascular Variant for Accurate CT Diagnosis
Introduction: When One Artery Changes Everything A 62-year-old patient arrives in the emergency department with vague abdominal pain. A contrast-enhanced CT scan is performed. At first glance, the findings appear unremarkable—until a subtle but critical vascular anomaly is detected. A single arterial trunk supplies both the foregut and midgut. This is the celiacomesenteric trunk (CMT) —a rare but clinically significant vascular variant that can alter surgical planning, complicate radiology interpretation , and even influence outcomes in emergency diagnosis . In the era of high-resolution medical imaging , especially CT scan diagnosis , recognizing such vascular anomalies is no longer optional—it is essential. What Is the Celiacomesenteric Trunk? The celiacomesenteric trunk (CMT) is a rare anatomical variation in which the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) arise from a common origin from the abdominal aorta. Normal Anatomy vs Variant Structure ...