Accessory renal artery
Accessory renal arteries are a common variant and are present in ~25% (range 20-30%) and are bilateral in ~10% of the population . Their proper identification is of utmost importance for surgical planning prior to live donor transplantation and renal artery embolization for various reasons .
The term extra renal artery may be used , with a subclassification into:
- aberrant renal artery: supplying the superior and/or inferior pole of the kidney
- accessory renal artery: supplying the renal hilum
Accessory renal arteries occur bilaterally in 10-15% of cases:
- single renal artery arising from the abdominal aorta: 70%
- double renal arteries: ~20% (range 14-23%)
- triple renal arteries: ~2.5% (range 1-4%)
- quadruple renal arteries: <1%
Most commonly accessory renal arteries arise from the abdominal aorta and supply the inferior pole of the kidney, although rarely they can arise from:
History and etymology
The first recorded case of multiple renal arteries was described by Eustachius in 1552 .
