AN UNUSUAL PANCREATIC ARTERIAL PATTERN: A CASE REPORT

Pancreas is an important digestive gland in our body with wide range of both exocrine and endocrine functions. Pancreas has a rich vascular supply from the celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery. The superior pancreatico-duodenal artery (from gastro-duodenal artery) and the inferior pancreatico-duodenal artery (from superior mesenteric artery) runs in the groove between the pancreas and the duodenum to supply the head of pancreas. Pancreas also derives its blood supply from splenic artery which supplies its head, body and tail region. Profuse vascular supply makes it prone for haemorrhage and that may be the reason that pancreatic blood supply has always been an area of constant interest. In depth knowledge of the variations of blood vessels in this region is utmost important for the successful accomplishment of complex surgical procedures like resection of head of pancreas. The present case report brings in light abnormal pattern of vascularisation in the head region of pancreas and an unusual pancreatic branch from the junction of superior and inferior pancreatic arteries.