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Terminal quadrifurcation of the aorta: A case report


Siviwe S. Mpateni
Jacques Bence
Richard D. Pitcher
Michelle Da Silva

Abstract

Congenital anatomical variations of the terminal aorta are rare. Given the increasing number of endovascular and laparoscopic  procedures, such variations are likely to assume greater clinical significance. A 15-year-old male sustained a pelvic vascular injury  following a stab to the left gluteus. Computed tomographic angiography and digital subtraction angiography demonstrated a left  superior gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm and absence of the common iliac arteries consistent with congenital quadrifurcation of the  terminal aorta. The patient was subsequently treated with endovascular coil embolisation with a good angiographic and clinical outcome.



Contribution: Terminal aortic variants are rare and given the increasing number of interventional endovascular procedures performed in  the aorta, an awareness of the potential anatomical configurations of the distal aortic branches is of increasing relevance. The authors describe the imaging findings of one such anatomical variant.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2078-6778
print ISSN: 1027-202X