Kirk’s arcade: a case report

A variation in the branching of the coeliac trunk was found in which the coeliac trunk gave four arteries, the common hepatic, splenic, left gastric and an additional dorsal pancreatic artery. One of the branches of the dorsal pancreatic artery joined with the right gastroepiploic artery close to its origin to form Kirk’s arcade. The clinical implication is that the location and course of dorsal pancreatic artery should be established given its central role in blood supply of the pancreas. The presence of Kirk’s arcade also needs to be evaluated as it can establish a collateral pathway for blood to reach the liver in common hepatic arterial occlusions.