Prostatic Artery Originating from Inferior Mesenteric Artery: A Very Rare Variation Observed in Computed Tomography Angiography

Abstract

The knowledge of detailed anatomy of the pelvic arterial system is essential to prevent the postoperative morbidity of prostate surgery. Prostatic artery embolization has an increasing importance in treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Studies concerned with prostatic arterial supply are predominantly based on cadaveric studies and there are a few radiologic studies. Various variations and presence of collateral shunts causing complications in prostatic artery embolization were reported in the literature. However; to our knowledge, the prostatic arteries originating from the branches of abdominal arteries have not been described. In the present study, we described a 36 year-old male patient with three prostatic arteries via computed tomography angiography (CTA). From these three arteries; the dominant vessel was originating from inferior mesenteric artery. Arterial variations of the region may be well defined due to the increasing popularity of minimally invasive nonsurgical treatments and widespread use of CTA as a diagnostic method.