Accessory renal arteries: frequency of anatomical variations and clinical aspect

The presence of accessory renal arteries (ARA) entails numerous consequences. Despite extensive research and reports on ARA, conflicting evidence and information persist. This article analyzes the types of accessory renal arteries, their origins, frequency, and clinical implications. The aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge on ARA and their associated clinical implications. An electronic search of English-language medical literature available in scientific databases for research and recent reports related to ARA was conducted. Original and review articles published between 2004 and 2023 were included as criteria. Information from the two volumes of Human Anatomy by A. Bochenek and M. Reicher was also incorporated. The presence of accessory renal arteries is the result of their failure to regress during the ascent of the metanephros. From the conducted studies, it can be observed that the frequency of ARA varies depending on the ethnic origin of the subjects. Awareness of the potential presence of ARA during surgery is crucial, as their inadvertent transection can lead to massive hemorrhage. In addition to surgical implications, accessory renal arteries may pose internal medicine problems such as arterial hypertension (AH). The role of ARA in the occurrence of AH is still under investigation. Accessory renal arteries exhibit significant anatomical variability in terms of origin, course, and entry point into the kidney. Despite research on the frequency of occurrence and clinical implications of ARA, there are still insufficient data to clearly determine their potential impact on specific diseases. Therefore, further research in this area is warranted.