Detection of retroaortic left renal vein and circumaortic left renal vein by PET/CT images to avoid misdiagnosis and support possible surgical procedures.

Abstract

We aimed to identify retroaortic left renal vein (RLRV) and circumaortic left renal vein (CLRV) by using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) images, to obtain their percentages and to evaluate the effect of gender on their frequencies. Plain CT and fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET/CT images of 222 consecutive patients who underwent oncological PET/CT imaging were used to detect RLRV and CLRV. The numbers and percentages of total left renal vein (LRV) variations, RLRV and CLRV were obtained. Fisher's exact test was used to determine the relation between the LRV variations and gender. In the whole group (n=222), the percentages and the numbers of total LRV variations, RLRV and CLRV were 5.85% (n=13), 2.70% (n=6) and 3.15% (n=7), respectively. In male population (n=116), the percentages and the numbers of total LRV variations, RLRV, and CLRV were 6.03% (n=7), 2.58% (n=3) and 3.45% (n=4), respectively. In female population (n=106), the percentages and the numbers of total LRV variations, RLRV, and CLRV were 5.66% (n=6), 2.83% (n=3) and 2.83% (n=3), respectively. The percentages of RLRV and CLRV were found to be independent of gender (P=1.000). PET/CT is a useful imaging modality in detecting RLRV and CLRV. The relationship of gender with RLRV or CLRV was not statistically significant.