A rare case of left superior vena cava draining into left atrium demonstrated by MDCT

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Radiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital anomaly.
• Typically, PLSVC drains into the right atrium via the coronary sinus.
• Variations in venous drainage can have significant clinical implications.

Observation:

• A unique case of PLSVC draining directly into the left atrium is presented.
• This drainage pattern was discovered incidentally in a patient undergoing imaging.
• Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was instrumental in visualizing the anomalous vein.

Findings:

• The PLSVC emptied directly into the left atrium, bypassing the normal venous return pathway.
• Crucially, there were no associated anomalies of the coronary sinus or atrial septum.
• This isolated finding represents a rare anatomical variant.

Implications:

• Understanding such rare venous anomalies is vital for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning.
• MDCT provides excellent detail for identifying and characterizing complex congenital heart and vascular malformations.
• This case expands the spectrum of known PLSVC drainage patterns and highlights the importance of detailed imaging review.