The Corona Mortis, a Frequent Vascular Variant Susceptible to Blunt Pelvic Trauma: Identification at Routine Multidetector CT

Contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrates a large left-sided pelvic hematoma with active extravasation (*). Note the decompressed bladder deviated to the right with opacified distal ureters posteriorly (arrows). Pelvic fractures are not shown.

Left external iliac artery injection demonstrates the source of bleeding to be from a variant obturator artery (*) originating from the inferior epigastric artery (IEA). Subselective coaxial catheterization was performed, and the corona mortis was subsequently embolized to stasis (not shown). EIA = external iliac artery.

Sequential 1.25-mm thin axial (a–d) and coronal reformatted (e–h) images from contrast-enhanced CT demonstrate variant left obturator artery (arrows) originating from the inferior epigastric artery. Note the general posteromedial and inferior course of this corona mortis across the superior pubic ramus and into the obturator canal. For comparison, the typical right obturator artery (arrows) is noted to originate from the internal iliac artery distribution.

Cut-away three-dimensional volume-rendered left posterior oblique view of the right hemipelvis demonstrates the vulnerable course of the right corona mortis (CM). EIA = external iliac artery, IEA = inferior epigastric artery, * = symphysis pubis.