Visualization of pathways into the retrocrural space across the esophageal hiatus.

(A) The oblique sagittal plane shows Route 1, Route 2 and Route 3 track together from the left extraperitoneal space to the retrocrural space across the esophageal hiatus (white arrowheads) from the lateral superior view on CVH2. Route 1 (black open arrows) is displayed as the path from the peripancreatic space to the left extraperitoneal space. Route 2 (crooked arrows) presents the conduit in the retromesenteric plane (blue lines) spreading to the left extraperitoneal space. Route 3 (white long arrows) shows the pathway from the retromesenteric plane to the retrorenal plane (green lines) and further to the left extraperitoneal space. (B) Case 1, a 47-year-old man with recurrent acute pancreatitis. Route 1 to Route 3 on the reformed CT plane corresponds well to the paths on CVH2. The thickened bridging septa distributes on Route 3 (white short arrows). A: left extraperitoneal space; B: pancreas; C: left kidney; D: left adrenal gland; E: esophageal hiatus; F: retrocrural space; G: pericapsular fluid collections. (C) Route 4 (white open arrows) from the retromesenteric plane to the left retrorenal plane across the left fascial trifurcation and further into the retrocrural space via the esophageal hiatus is displayed on the dataset of VHPA. (D) Case 2, a 60-year-old woman with recurrent acute pancreatitis. Route 4 is present in the CT image.