Unusual Branching Pattern of the Portal Vein: Its Importance.

Portal vein anatomy and its branching pattern are of utmost importance for surgical planning of complex liver resections, living donor liver transplant and radiological procedures. The division of the vein at the porta hepatis, into the right and left branches is the most common branching pattern. Various branching variations have been described. We report a previously undescribed branching pattern of the right portal vein, where the segment VII vein arises directly from the left portal vein.