The purpose of the current case is to describe a very rare coexistence of a replaced common hepatic artery (rCHA) and dorsal pancreatic agenesis with notable surgical implications. Preoperative computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography were performed in a 53-year-old female with cholangiocarcinoma. Imaging revealed an rCHA arising from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and coursing anterior to the pancreatic head, supplying the right and left hepatic arteries, right gastroepiploic artery, and both the superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries. The gastroduodenal artery was absent. Dorsal pancreatic agenesis was confirmed, with the absence of the pancreatic body and tail. This configuration places the rCHA at high intraoperative risk and eliminates a major coeliac–SMA collateral route. Detailed preoperative vascular mapping and tailored surgical strategies are essential to prevent catastrophic ischemia during pancreatic or hepatic surgery and to guide appropriative operative approach.

Gonadal arteries (GAs) and gonadal veins (GVs) display substantial anatomical variation, which has direct implications for surgical procedures, radiological interpretation, and fertility management. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence, origin, course, and drainage patterns of gonadal vessels in human anatomy. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in line with current Evidence-Based Anatomy and PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive search of major databases and anatomical journals yielded 31 eligible studies, comprising data on 2,875 gonadal vessels. The typical GA anatomy (single artery arising from the abdominal aorta) was observed in 98.72% of cases. Accessory GAs were found in 1.12%, most commonly arising from the renal artery (5.52%), with rare origins (<0.01%) from the accessory renal or suprarenal arteries. A normal arterial course was present in 90.24%, while an arched course occurred in 9.76%. The typical GV pattern (single vein draining into the inferior vena cava [IVC] or renal vein) was seen in 94.97%, and accessory GVs in 5.03%. The right GV drained into the IVC in 96.51%, with aberrant drainage to the right renal vein in 4.41%. The left GV drained into the left renal vein in 95.35%, with aberrant IVC drainage in 4.17%. Although the typical gonadal vascular anatomy predominates, variants, especially in GA origin and GV drainage, are not rare and must be recognized. These findings underscore the clinical importance of anatomical awareness in surgical planning, radiological evaluation, and the management of urological and reproductive conditions.

The current cadaveric report describes an unusual morphology of the sartorius muscle (SM), the biceps-bicaudatus variant. The SM had two (lateral and medial) heads, with distinct tendinous origins from the anterior superior iliac spine.The lateral head was further split into a lateral and a medial bundle. The anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve emerged between the origins of the lateral and medial heads. SM morphological variants are exceedingly uncommon, with only a few documented cases in the literature, and several terms used for their description. Although their rare occurrence, they may play an important role in the differential diagnosis of entrapment syndromes, in cases of neural compressions, such as meralgia paresthetica, while careful dissection during the superficial inter-nervous plane of the direct anterior hip approach is of utmost importance, to avoid adverse effects due to the altered SM morphology.

The current cadaveric report aims to present a coexistence of two uncommon variants of the posterior leg compartment. The variations were detected, during classical dissection in an 84-year-old donated male cadaver. On the left lower limb, the gastrocnemius muscle was identified as having a third head that was attached to the lateral head. This variant is known as gastrocnemius tertius muscle and was bilaterally identified. The left-sided plantaris muscle had two distinct heads that fused into a common tendon that was inserted into the calcaneal tuberosity. Knowledge of these variants is important, due to their close relationship with the popliteal neurovascular bundle. Clinicians should be aware, to avoid pitfalls and take them into account in their differential diagnosis.

The 7th cervical vertebra (C7) is described as having the most prominent spinous process (SP) and is characterized as the “vertebra prominens” (VP) of the cervical spine in anatomy textbooks. The VP is an important anatomical landmark of the neck for clinical examination and therapeutic intervention. The present study identifies the level of the most prominent SP of the cervical and uppermost thoracic vertebrae in a cadaveric cohort. Thirty-nine (23 female and 16 male) cadavers of a mean age of 77.5 years were investigated in a prone position and a certain cervical kyphotic bending. The most prominent SP, at the base of the neck, was palpated and marked with a wedging nail into the SP of the vertebra. The cervical region was dissected, and a blind investigator examined whether the nail was placed into the SP of C7 or the SP of another upper or lower vertebra. In 19 out of 39 cadavers (48.7%), the C7 was identified as the VP (typical anatomy), followed by the C6 (in 14 cadavers, 35.9%), C5 (in 4 cadavers, 10.3%). In 2 cadavers (5.1%) the first thoracic vertebra was identified as having the most prominent SP. Although C7 is described as the VP, in the present study the SP of C7 was the most prominent in less than 50%.The high variable projection level of the most prominent SP of the cervical vertebra holds great clinical significance for spine examination, neck surgery, and spinal anesthesia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the commonest cause and ambulatory pH is of great value in identifying these patients. However, parameters in the context of predicting therapeutic response are still unknown. By extending the monitoring period, we could better evaluate the best evidence for GERD association. Our aims were (1) to compare the outcomes of 48-hour pH monitoring to 24-hour and (2) to determine whether objective parameters could predict the treatment success in patients with NCCP using Bravo pH system. METHODS: Pathological esophageal acid reflux (PEAR) and positive symptom index (SI) were calculated after 24-hour and compared to the 48-hour study. Evidence suggestive of GERD diagnosis was considered if PEAR and/or SI (+) were present on each different day. After pH study, all patients received proton pump inhibitor twice a day for 4 weeks. Treatment success was determined at the end of therapy. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with NCCP participated. GERD was identified in 20 (62.5%) patients; 17 (53.1%) had PEAR, 3 (9.4%) SI (+) and 7 (22%) both. Twelve (41%) patients exhibited PEAR values on day 1, while 17 after 2 days; a 12.1% gain. SI (+) was found in 6 patients (18.8%) on day 1 and in 4 more on day 2, a gain of 12.5%. Significantly higher proportion of patients with GERD indicators showed improvement compared to those without (90% vs 16.7%, P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NCCP, 48-hour pH measurement identified GERD as the cause of NCCP with an increased yield by almost 12% compared to 12 hours. Objective GERD parameters could predict response to antireflux therapy.
Chest Pain ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitriles ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Proton Pumps ; Protons ; Pyrus ; Thorax