Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
Published on: January 13, 2023
Situs Ambiguous With Polysplenia With Azygos Continuation of the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC): A Case Report
Jad Kabbara1, Pasang Sherpa2, Enayat Shahidifar2
1Anesthesiology, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, USA.
Abstract:
Situs ambiguous with polysplenia with azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) represents an exceptionally rare spectrum of congenital anomalies resulting from the disrupted left-right access development during embryogenesis. Although most reported cases are identified in childhood due to the associated cardiac and biliary malformations, survival into adulthood without major comorbidities is uncommon and rarely documented. We presented the case of a 37-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with left leg swelling and persistent nausea and vomiting. Imaging performed for unrelated symptoms revealed multiple right-sided spleens, a predominantly left-sided liver, and an infrahepatic IVC draining via the azygos system into the superior vena cava (SVC), all of which are findings consistent with sinus ambiguous with polysplenia. This case is unique in demonstrating the incidental asymptomatic presentation of this complex anomaly in an adult without significant cardiobiliary comorbidities. From a radiological standpoint, awareness of this pattern is critical to prevent misinterpretations as simply a vascular obstruction or post-operative change. Clinically, the recognition of this anomaly is essential for surgical planning, central venous access, and interpretation of cross-sectional imaging. Reporting exceptionally rare adult cases like this patient aids in expanding the understanding of this heterotaxy's variable spectrum and emphasizes the importance of accurate radiological identification in optimizing patient care.
Related Concept Videos
Veins of the Abdomen and Pelvis
The inferior vena cava is fed by numerous smaller veins. The lumbar veins, for instance, drain the posterior abdominal wall, emptying both directly into the inferior vena cava and into the...
Veins of Thorax
The azygos vein, positioned just right of the midline and anterior to the vertebral column, begins at the junction of the right ascending lumbar and subcostal veins, terminating in the superior vena cava. This vein drains blood from the right side of the thoracic wall, thoracic viscera, and posterior abdominal wall.
The...
Overview of Systemic Veins
The coronary sinus, the heart's principal vein, resides in the coronary sulcus on the heart's posterior aspect. This broad venous channel receives nearly all venous blood from the myocardium, the heart muscle. It is fed by three primary veins: the great cardiac vein, the middle...
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies