Persisting subcardinal vein associated with unilateral ectopic pelvic kidney

Absence of left kidney was noted during routine anatomy dissection of a male cadaver of South Indian origin. On examination of the abdomen and pelvic cavities; an ovoid mass of tissue was found in the pelvis, anterolateral to the sacrum. Further dissection revealed the presence of an ectopic left side kidney. The ectopic kidney was lying inferior to the sigmoid colon and anterior to the bifurcation of left common iliac vessel. It was supplied by numerous aberrant vessels from the terminal part of abdominal aorta. One of the renal veins which drain the ectopic kidney was found to be persisting subcardinal vein and it is a novel finding. Such ectopic pelvic kidneys are susceptible to blunt trauma, iatrogenic injuries as well as pathologic manifestations.