Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the vascular anatomy of the internal mammary arteries that supply hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), with an emphasis on number of tumor feeders.
Materials and methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board; informed consent was waived. Between August 1996 and July 2005, internal mammary arteries that supply HCCs were found in 97 (2.2%) of 4438 patients (76 men, 21 women; mean age, 55 years +/- 10.5 [standard deviation]; range, 19-79 years). Computed tomographic scans and digital subtraction angiograms in these 97 patients were retrospectively reviewed in consensus by two interventional radiologists. Tumor size, number of tumor feeders, and tumor location were recorded. The t test and analysis of variance were used to correlate tumor size with number of tumor feeders, tumor feeder laterality, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) time.
Results: The following 125 tumor feeders were identified in 97 patients: phrenic branch (n = 59), musculophrenic artery (n = 40), superior epigastric artery (n = 15), anterior intercostal artery (n = 6), ensiform artery (n = 4), and pericardiacophrenic artery (n = 1). In two patients, tumors were in dorsal hepatic areas directly beneath the diaphragm. Half of the tumors located in liver segments II or III were supplied by the right internal mammary artery. In three patients, the tumor feeders from the left internal mammary artery crossed the midline. Tumor size was not statistically associated with number of tumor feeders (P = .076), tumor feeder laterality (P = .141), and TACE time (P = .729).
Conclusion: The common tumor feeders of the internal mammary artery are the phrenic branch and the musculophrenic artery. Moreover, the internal mammary artery can supply a tumor even in the dorsal hepatic area.