Enrico Capaccio1, Michele Bertolotto2, Andrea Paladini3, Giulio Cecchini4, Simona Manole5, Sorin Dudea5, Mustafa Secil6, Lorenzo E Derchi7. 1. Department of Radiology, Radiologia d'Urgenza, AOU IRCCS San Martino IST, Genoa, Italy. 2. Department of Radiology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. 3. Department of Radiology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy. 4. Diagnostica per Immagini Ospedaliera, Ospedale Evangelico Internazionale, presidio ospedaliero di Voltri, Genoa, Italy. 5. Department of Radiology, Univ Med Pharm "Iuliu Hatieganu", Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 6. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey. 7. Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Radiology Section, University of Genoa, Radiologia d'Urgenza, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IST, Largo R. Benzi, 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy. derchi@unige.it.
Abstract
AIM: To describe the CT findings in eight patients with left-sided inferior vena cava (IVC) in whom the left renal artery presented a precaval course (pLRA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the teaching files of six radiology departments for patients with pLRAs. Eight patients were found, and the available imaging studies and clinical histories were reviewed. Associated vascular and renal anomalies were noted. RESULTS: No patient had been examined for problems related to the vascular anomaly found. Four had a double IVC and two a solitary left IVC; in all, the left-sided IVCs had hemiazygos continuation. One patient had situs viscerum inversus. In one case, there was a left kidney in left iliac fossa. CONCLUSION: Although rare and probably overlooked, a pLRAs can be encountered in patients with situs viscerum inversus or presenting a left-sided IVC with hemiazygos continuation. These vessels can cause technical problems during surgery at the left renal hilum and should be specifically searched for in patients with vascular anomalies.
AIM: To describe the CT findings in eight patients with left-sided inferior vena cava (IVC) in whom the left renal artery presented a precaval course (pLRA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the teaching files of six radiology departments for patients with pLRAs. Eight patients were found, and the available imaging studies and clinical histories were reviewed. Associated vascular and renal anomalies were noted. RESULTS: No patient had been examined for problems related to the vascular anomaly found. Four had a double IVC and two a solitary left IVC; in all, the left-sided IVCs had hemiazygos continuation. One patient had situs viscerum inversus. In one case, there was a left kidney in left iliac fossa. CONCLUSION: Although rare and probably overlooked, a pLRAs can be encountered in patients with situs viscerum inversus or presenting a left-sided IVC with hemiazygos continuation. These vessels can cause technical problems during surgery at the left renal hilum and should be specifically searched for in patients with vascular anomalies.
Authors: Benjamin M Yeh; Fergus V Coakley; Maxwell V Meng; Richard S Breiman; Marshall L Stoller Journal: Radiology Date: 2004-02 Impact factor: 11.105