Comments on the Article "Rare Variations in the Origin, Branching Pattern and Course of the Celiac Trunk: Report of Two Cases".

Dear Editor, I read with interest, the article entitled “Rare variations in the origin, branching pattern and course of the celiac trunk: Report of two cases.” published in Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (1). I congratulate the authors for their neat dissection and clear display of the variant arteries. The schematic diagrams also help the readers to understand the branching pattern of the vessels further. The authors have reviewed the literature thoroughly. However some interesting similar variations related to the current variation of the coeliac trunk have not been cited in the article. The celiac trunk is known for its variations. It may bifurcate, trifurcate or quadrifurcate (2, 3). It may be joined with inferior phrenic, renal and superior mesenteric arteries (4, 5). All its branches may come from abdominal aorta independently or unite to form combined trunks as mentioned in the above said case report (1). Venieratos et al. have observed the bifurcation of celiac trunk into splenogastric trunk in 1.3% of cases (5). Nayak has reported the existence of a common celiacomesenterico-phrenic trunk (6). A case of hepatospleno-mesenteric trunk has also been reported (7). It is quite important for anatomists and surgeons to report vascular variations and discuss their clinical importance. Knowledge of all the possible variations of the celiac trunk is quite important for the radiologists and surgeons to avoid misdiagnosis and iatrogenic bleeding during abdominal surgeries.