Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2026

Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
Published on: January 13, 2023
Anomalous Left Brachiocephalic Vein Draining into the Right Internal Thoracic Vein: A Case Report
Abstract:
The left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV) rarely exhibits an anomalous course and its major patterns have been described in several studies. Although LBCV anomalies are mostly asymptomatic, their identification and recognition are important in clinical settings such as cardiovascular intervention or surgery. Herein, we report a rare anomalous LBCV that was incidentally detected on chest computed tomography in a 59-year-old female. Instead of directly draining into the superior vena cava (SVC), this anomalous LBCV travelled an extraordinarily long, downward trajectory to drain into the right internal thoracic vein and consequently into the SVC.
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