Prenatal diagnosis of a bifurcating umbilical vein with left iliac vein connection.

Abstract

Abnormalities of the umbilical venous circulation are quite rare. Reported abnormalities include persistent right umbilical vein1–4 and absent ductus venosus. In cases of absent ductus venosus, the umbilical venous circulation has been found to empty entirely into either the portal5–9 or the systemic circulation.10–22 We present a case diagnosed prenatally in which the umbilical vein bifurcated just outside the fetal abdominal wall, with one branch connecting to the left iliac vein and the other following a normal intrahepatic course connecting to the ductus venosus and left portal vein.