CTICasesLeft Superior Vena Cava and Hemiazygos Continuation of the Inferior Vena Cava
Imaging findings
Chest radiograph demonstrates an indistinct aortic arch with a prominent vertical interface along the left superior mediastinum. CT chest and abdomen images show a persistent left superior vena cava (SVC) coexisting with a right SVC, draining into the right atrium via a dilated coronary sinus. Additionally, there is a hemiazygos continuation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) that courses superiorly and drains into the left SVC via the left superior intercostal vein, in a patient with abdominal heterotaxy (midline liver, right-sided stomach and spleen) but normal lung lobar anatomy.
Key takeaways
Persistent left SVC with hemiazygos continuation of the IVC is a rare congenital systemic venous anomaly that can produce a characteristic vertical stripe on frontal chest radiographs. Often associated with heterotaxy syndromes, this vascular anomaly represents a benign normal variant that is important to document for venous access planning and to prevent misinterpretation as a mediastinal mass.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Necrotizing Granulomatous Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia (PJP)Infection
- Embolized/Dislodged Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Prosthesis in the Coronary SinusIatrogenic
- Post-operative Permeability Pulmonary Edema / Fat Embolism SyndromeTrauma
- Acute Aortic PseudoaneurysmVascular
- Fat Embolism SyndromeTrauma
- Tracheal Bronchus, Bilobed Right Lung, and Left Lung HypoplasiaCongenital
- Esophageal Traction Diverticulum Secondary to HistoplasmosisInfection
- Cannonball Pulmonary Metastases from Testicular Mixed Germ Cell TumorNeoplastic
See all cases from June 5, 2021 →