The Arc of Riolan artery may serve as the only pathway for lymphatic metastasis in advanced splenic flexure cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Colon cancer located at the splenic flexure exhibits dual lymphatic drainage via the left middle colic artery (lt-MCA) to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) system and the left colic artery (LCA) to the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) system. However, an additional pathway-the Arc of Riolan (AoR) artery, central anastomotic vessels connecting the SMA and IMA-may also serve as a route for metastasis. This case highlights the importance of central vascular ligation of the AoR in splenic flexure cancer.

Case

We present a rare case of isolated AoR lymph node metastasis in a 72-year-old male with advanced splenic flexure cancer. The patient presented with multiple synchronous tumors (splenic flexure, sigmoid, and rectum) and underwent extended left hemicolectomy wit

SUBMITTER: Tan JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12858470 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature