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Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava Draining into the Coronary Sinus: A Case Report
Ertugrul Kurtoglu1, Ozlem Cakin2, Selahaddin Akcay3
1Elazig Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Cardiology, Elazig, Turkey.
Insights
Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital anomaly. Diagnosis of PLSVC, often found incidentally, is crucial due to clinical implications, with echocardiography aiding detection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Embryology
- Anatomy
Background:
- Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a congenital anomaly of the thoracic venous system.
- It arises from the failure of an embryological vessel to regress during fetal development.
- PLSVC is frequently discovered incidentally during medical procedures.
Abstract:
Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a congenital anomaly of the thoracic venous system resulting from the abnormal persistence of an embryological vessel that normally regresses during early fetal life. This anomaly is often discovered incidentally during surgery, cardiovascular imaging or invasive cardiovascular procedures. In most cases, a PLSVC drains into the right atrium through the coronary sinus. In the remainder of cases, it enters directly or through the pulmonary veins into the left atrium. A dilated coronary sinus on echocardiography should always raise the suspicion of a PLSVC as it has important clinical implications. The diagnosis should be confirmed by saline contrast echocardiography. We report a patient with persistent left superior vena cava with an enlarged coronary sinus and normal right superior vena cava.