Analysis of the caudate artery with three-dimensional imaging.

Background/purpose: To date there have been only a few radiological studies of the caudate artery. This study aimed to precisely analyze the caudate artery as well as the relationship between the caudate arteries, the arterial plexus at the hilar plate, and the hilar bile duct.

Methods: Reconstructed three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography images from 50 patients during hepatic arteriography were analyzed. The caudate arteries were classified as right branches (Irs) or left branches (Ils). The communicating artery (CA) was defined as the artery connecting the right, left, segmental, and common hepatic arteries.

Results: The caudate artery was divided into 3 types: an independent branch (Type 1); the common tract formed by Ir and Il (Type 2); and an arterial branch from the CA (Type 3). The CA was recognized in 25 of 50 patients. There was a total of 65 arteries to the hilar bile duct observed in 40 patients, and 24 (37 %) of these 65 arteries to the hilar bile duct originated from the caudate artery or CA.

Conclusion: The caudate artery plays an important role not only in connecting the blood supply of the right and left livers but in the blood supply to the hilar bile duct.