Anatomy and influence of the splenic artery in laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic lymphadenectomy

Figure 1 Terminal branches of the splenic artery. A: The concentrated type SpA (1: Preoperative assessment using 3DCT images; 2: Operative view after the completion of the splenic LN dissection); B: The distributed type SpA (1: Preoperative assessment using 3DCT images; 2: Operative view after the completion of the splenic LN dissection). SpA: Splenic artery; 3DCT: 3-dimensional computer tomography; LNs: Lymph nodes.

Figure 2 Splenic lobar artery. A: Single-branch type; B: Two-branched type; C: Three-branched type; D: Multiple-branched.

Figure 3 Relation between the course of the splenic artery trunk and the pancreas. A: Type I; B: Type II; C: Type III; D: Type IV.