Three main anatomic variants of the left renal vein are present: pre-aortic, retro-aortic and circumaortic. Rarely, a supernumerary left renal vein may occur. The embryogenesis of the left renal vein is reviewed. The significance of these anomalies, particularly the retro-aortic and circumaortic renal veins, in adrenal venography, renal vein renin sampling and shunting procedure for portal hypertension is discussed.
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