An Investigative Study of Hepatic Arterial Anomalies in a West Indian Population

Abstract

Purpose. There are many known variations in the arterial supply to the liver. We sought to document the incidence and details of anomalies of the extrahepatic arteries in an unselected population in the West Indies. Methods. This study spanned 24 months. All 205 CT scans were evaluated at a hepatobiliary referral center in Trinidad and Tobago. We described the anomalies of the arterial supply to the liver using the conventional classification proposed by Michels. Results. 205 CT scans were evaluated, and 112 persons (54.6%) had conventional Type 1 anatomy. However, compared to the incidence in the existing medical literature, we encountered a greater incidence of replaced right hepatic arteries (18.1% vs 11%; P 0.04 ) and a lower incidence of accessory right hepatic arteries (2.4% vs 7%; P 0.030 ). Conclusion. Although 54.6% of persons in this West Indian population have conventional hepatic arterial supply, the distribution of anatomic variants of the right hepatic artery is quite different to that seen in North American and European centers. We found a higher incidence of replaced right hepatic arteries and a lower incidence of accessory right hepatic arteries.