Congenital absence of the splenic artery.

Major angiographic features of congenital absence of the splenic artery are nonvisualization of the splenic artery and filling of the intrasplenic branches via collateral channels. The differential diagnosis of the anomaly includes atherosclerotic occlusion of the splenic artery, splenic artery thrombosis, and previous surgical intervention of the splenic artery. This entity, as seen in one patient, may be a new causative agent in upper gastrointestinal bleeding.