Anatomy of the pancreatic veins. A post mortem and clinical phlebographic investigation.

The venous anatomy of 22 autopsy specimens of human pancreas was examined by dissection and radiography after injection of gelatin agent. The most constant findings were the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein draining to the portal vein and the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein draining to the gastrocolic trunk and superior mesenteric vein. Both veins were identified in 21 and 20 of 22 cases, respectively. All other pancreatic veins varied considerably in their course. The normal findings in clinical selective pancreatic phlebography based on 148 examinations are described.