Left-sided inferior vena cava: A case report

Abstract

Left-sided inferior vena cava (L1VC) is a rare, but also one of the most important anatomical variations in the spectrum of the congenital anomalies of this blood vessel. Today, 1VC variations and its tributaries are increasingly recognized, primarily thanks to the availability and use of modern imaging modalities (multidetector computed tomography - MDCT, magnetic resonance imaging - MR1). 1n our paper we present a case of L1VC in a 23-year-old patient. During the examination of the abdomen with 64-slice MDCT - with intravenous contrast (i.v.) we discovered L1VC. The patient had come to the examination because of a traffic trauma. The review found that L1VC ended at the level of the left renal vein, and then crossed anterior to the abdominal aorta to join the right renal vein and formed a normal right 1VC. Anatomical variations of 1VC are usually asymptomatic and are discovered during routine controls performed for any other reason. L1VC has a prevalence of 0.2%-0.5%. Contrast-enhanced CT is the modality of choice in patients with L1VC. With the availability of high-speed MDCT scanners and sagittal and coronal reconstructions extraordinary views of the normal and abnormal 1VC are obtained. The significance of a L1VC is to exclude left para-aortic lymphadenopathy, varices, collateral and gonadal veins. The main clinical significance is preoperative diagnosis for abdominal surgery, kidney and liver transplantation, or trauma. So we need to think about existence of the L1VC.