Absent ascending colon, subhepatic cecum with appendix, duodeno-ileal band, and variant arterial pattern: a Cluster of anatomical variations

Anatomical variations of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly those associated with atypical vascular supply, are of significant surgical concern. This case report presents a rare combination of anomalies observed in a 65-year-old male cadaver. These included the complete absence of the ascending colon, a subhepatic cecum with an appendix, a duodeno-ileal band, an unusual branching pattern of the superior mesenteric artery, and the presence of a vascular watershed area due to discontinuity of the marginal artery anastomosis between the right colic and middle colic arteries. Additionally, the arterial supply to the cecum was altered, as the anterior and posterior cecal arteries originated from the middle colic artery, further highlighting the uniqueness of this case. Embryological explanations and comparisons with previously reported cases are discussed to underscore the novelty and potential surgical implications of these findings.