Double Inferior Vena Cava in a patient with lymphoma

Abstract

The inferior vena cava (IVC) develops by a complex process from diverse embryonic sources and drains blood from a large number of structures inferior to the diaphragm. Congenital malformations of the IVC are reported to be rare and most of these malformations are accidental findings through abdominal imaging studies. Although compatible with life, these anomalies are of major clinical importance and can be a contributing factor in thrombus formation. This case report describes a double IVC in an adult male cadaver who died of lymphoma and cardiac events. The common iliac veins were found to continue superiorly and fuse together slightly cranial to the level of the superior mesenteric artery origin from the aorta at the L1 vertebral level. The left IVC received the left gonadal vein. The left suprarenal vein opened into the corresponding renal vein which extended superiorly and fused side to side with the left IVC as well as with the common IVC. Multiple factors may contribute to embryonic IVC malformations including genetic, and environmental including the expression and regulation of growth factors that control epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (e.g. TGF‐â), formation of endothelium, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and various VEGF receptors.