Left inferior vena cava
| Left inferior vena cava |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Associate Editor: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
- A left IVC results from regression of the right supracardinal vein with persistence of the left supracardinal vein.
- The prevalence is 0.2%–0.5% .
- The major clinical significance of this anomaly is the potential for misdiagnosis as left-sided paraaortic lymphadenopathy.
- Spontaneous rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm into a left IVC has been reported.
- Transjugular access to the infrarenal IVC for placement of an IVC filter may be difficult.
Diagnostic Findings
- Typically, the left IVC joins the left renal vein, which crosses anterior to the aorta in the normal fashion, uniting with the right renal vein to form a normal right-sided prerenal IVC.
See Also
External Links
References for Left inferior vena cava
- J. Edward Bass, Michael D. Redwine, Larry A. Kramer, Phan T. Huynh, and John H. Harris, Jr. Spectrum of Congenital Anomalies of the Inferior Vena Cava: Cross-sectional Imaging Findings. RadioGraphics 2000 20: 639-652.