Vena Cava and Left Renal Vein Variations and Association with Other Anomalies Including Horseshoe Kidney

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to detect the types and prevalences of vena cava variations, as well as looking for gender differences and associating anomalies. Patients and Methods: The computed tomography (CT) images of 5763 patients who had undergone thorax and abdominal CT examinations were evaluated retrospectively for superior vena cava (SVC), inferior vena cava (IVC), and left renal vein (LRV) variations. Results: Vena cava variations were detected in 637 (11%) patients. SVC variations were present in 15 (0.26%) patients, while 36 (0.64%) patients had IVC, and 596 patients (10.34%) had LRV variations. It was also shown that there was no difference between the prevalences of the variations in terms of gender difference. When associating anomalies were evaluated, it was seen that there was a significant increase in the risk of observing the horseshoe kidney anomaly in patients with retroaortic left renal vein (RALRV) variation. Conclusion: Vena cava variations are not rare. When present, they may coexist with other vena cava variations or other variations. These variations can easily be detected on CT. Properly characterizing and classifying IVC variations is crucial for proper planning of surgical interventions and transvenous interventions to prevent serious complications and failures.

Evaluation of left renal vein and IVC variations in MDCT examinations performed in patients with a preliminary diagnosis of renal calculi

“…The horseshoe kidney is the most common type of renal fusion anomaly, and its prevalence has been reported as between 0.1% and 0.3% in the literature [17,18]. In our study, 10 patients in total presented with with horseshoe kidneys, and the prevalence was determined as 0.6%, which is close to the rate stated in the literature.…”

“…Ichikawa et al [20] revealed in an another study that the total venous anomaly rate was 28.6% in patients with horseshoe kidneys and evaluated it as higher than the normal population. Leblebisatan et al [18] reported that the variation rate was 5.18 times higher in patients with horseshoe kidneys of RLRV than those without. In our study, a total of four patients had IVC variation, but these patients did not have a horseshoe kidney.…”