ABSTRACT
Purpose Median arcuate ligament (MAL) compression is the most common reason for celiac artery stenosis or occlusion, celiac artery compression of asymptomatic MAL is often misdiagnosed. This study aims to evaluate the multi-slice spiral CT manifestations of the celiac artery compression of median arcuate ligament. Materials and Methods CT features of 26 patients with celiac artery compression of median arcuate ligament were retrospectively studied. Eleven cases were symptomatic and fifteen cases were asymptomatic. Results In 14 cases (53.8%), the location of compression was at the level of superior 1/3 of the L1 vertebral body. There was statistic difference in location of the origin of compression between the celiac artery narrowing group and the non-narrowing group (P<0.05). CT manifestations included: narrowing of the celiac artery were observed in 26 patients on sagittal reformatted images with hollow on the anterior wall; a characteristic hooked appearance was observed. Narrowed celiac artery on the transverse images was seen in 21 patients, and a soft-tissue band extending across the anterior aspect of artery in 12 of them. Poststenotic dilatation was revealed in 20 patients. Collateral circulation was seen in 8 patients. Conclusion Multi-slice spiral CT can be helpful in demonstrating the location of celiac artery compression of median arcuate ligament and tell the characteristic imaging features.