Left-sided Inferior Vena Cava with Hemiazygos Continuation to Left Superior Vena Cava

Abstract

License CC-BY 3.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Congenital anomalies of superior (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) are not uncommon and usually incidentally recognized. The normal embryogenesis is a complex process involving the formation of several anastomoses. Failure of certain vessels to develop or regress results in numerous caval variations and anomalies. Although these are usually without significant clinical implications, awareness of these anomalies is necessary to avoid diagnostic pitfalls and suggest the presence of other abnormalities and for the planning of vascular intervention or surgery. We present a very rare, caval anomaly, a left-sided IVC with hemiazygos continuation to left SVC in the absence of right SVC.