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Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
Published on: January 13, 2023
Left-sided and duplicate inferior vena cava: a case series and review
Wee Choen Ang1, Terry Doyle, Mark D Stringer
1Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Clinical Anatomy (New York, N.Y.)
|May 12, 2012
Summary
Left-sided and duplicate inferior vena cava (IVC) are rare vascular anomalies. Understanding their computed tomographic appearances and clinical significance is crucial for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning.
Area of Science:
- Vascular anatomy and embryology
- Medical imaging and radiology
- Surgical anatomy
Background:
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) malformations, including left-sided and duplicate IVC, are developmental abnormalities of supracardinal veins.
- These anomalies, while rare, have significant clinical implications.
Observation:
- Four clinical cases illustrate the computed tomographic (CT) appearances of left-sided and duplicate IVC.
- A systematic literature review (2000-2011) analyzed 73 articles on these IVC variants.
- Prevalence is approximately 0.1-0.4% for left-sided IVC and 0.3-0.4% for duplicate IVC, with a slight male predominance.
Findings:
- Variations in the course and tributaries of the IVC are documented for both anomalies.
- Novel data on venous dimensions were provided from the case series.
- Associated pathologies, demographics, and anatomical variations were reviewed.
Implications:
- Potential for misdiagnosis on medical imaging.
- Technical challenges in retroperitoneal surgeries, such as abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and live donor nephrectomy.
- Importance in understanding venous thromboembolism etiology and management.
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