Double thoracic drainage of a left inferior vena cava

Abstract

The authors report a case of left IVC with a preferential hemiazygos-azygos drainage associated with an accessory left superior intercostal vein drainage. This exceptional congenital malformation which finds its place in polysplenia was studied by cavography, CT and MR imaging.

Unusual fibrous band on the left aspect of the aortic arch

“…In particular, the development of the supracardinal veins is followed by regression of the posterior cardinal veins, which finally form only the terminal segments of the azygos and left superior intercostal veins, draining into the superior vena cava and the left brachiocephalic vein, respectively. The supracardinal veins form the main tract of the azygos vein, on the right, and the hemiazygos, the accessory hemiazygos and the main tract of the left superior intercostal vein on the left (McClure and Butler, 1925;Bartoli et al, 1990;Sakamoto et al, 1993;Sadler, 1995) (Fig. 2a,b).…”