Related Experiment Videos
A case of absent right superior vena cava with persistent left superior vena cava: cross-sectional echocardiographic
Insights
This case report details the first diagnosis of absent right superior vena cava using echocardiography. Findings include an enlarged coronary sinus draining into the right atrium, confirmed by contrast echocardiography.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Anatomy
Background:
- Absence of the right superior vena cava is a rare congenital anomaly.
- Previous diagnoses relied on invasive methods, limiting early detection.
- Understanding variations in superior vena cava is crucial for cardiovascular health.
Observation:
- A patient presented with an enlarged coronary sinus draining directly into the right atrium.
- Contrast material injected into the right antecubital vein was visualized within the coronary sinus.
- This pattern was distinct from findings in patients with persistent left superior vena cava.
Findings:
- Echocardiography successfully diagnosed the absence of the right superior vena cava.
- The enlarged coronary sinus size exceeded normal ranges, even compared to related anomalies.
- Contrast echocardiography provided clear visualization of abnormal venous drainage.
Implications:
- Echocardiography offers a non-invasive method for diagnosing superior vena cava anomalies.
- Accurate diagnosis can prevent misinterpretation during cardiac procedures.
- This case expands the understanding of venous system variations and their diagnostic imaging.
Abstract:
We report a case of absence of the right superior vena cava. Hitherto, the findings in this condition have only been obtained using invasive methods; this report is the first in which the diagnosis was made by means of echocardiography. The findings include a markedly enlarged coronary sinus draining into the right atrium and a specific finding of contrast echocardiography in which contrast material injected into the right antecubital vein can be seen in the enlarged coronary sinus. The contrast echo flows into the right atrium from the coronary sinus only. The size of the coronary sinus was far beyond the range (91 +/- 38 mm2/m2) in patients with persistent left superior vena cava with the presence of the right superior vena cava.