Dados do Trabalho

Título

Inferior vena cava anomalies: giving directions

Introdução e objetivo(s)

Congenital anomalies and anatomical variations of venous return of the great vessels are relatively infrequent. Anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) range from 0.07% to 8.4% when associated with left renal vein variations. This educational exhibit aims to demonstrate usual and unusual cases of IVC anomalies, correlating with the anatomy, embryology and pathophysiology.

Método(s)

Literature review and retrospective analysis of cases of IVC anomalies, obtained through CT angiography, of experience and/or of the authors' own files. The imaging characteristics will be demonstrated by means of anatomical sections, multiplanar reconstructions, volumetric acquisition and simplified pictorial schemes, sometimes complemented by other imaging methods.

Discussão

Inferior vena cava have different embryonic origins established from a sequence of vascular formations, anastomoses, and regressions of posterior cardinal, supracardinal, subcarinal and vitelline veins, between the 4th and 8th weeks of gestation. Most anomalies are incidental findings but may be associated with other anomalies and clinical syndromes. For didactic purposes, we can classify them into: congenital absence, hypoplasia, pre-renal (azygos continuation of IVC), renal (retroaortic left renal vein and circumaortic venous collar), and post-renal (transposition of IVC or left-sided IVC, duplication of IVC, retrocaval or circumcaval ureter, and absent infrarenal inferior vena cava). These embryonic disorders have relevant clinical and surgical implications, and their recognition is important to avoid misinterpretation and to assist interventional vascular procedures.

Conclusões

Radiologist's familiarity with the imaging aspects of IVC anomalies, as well as the establishment of possible differential diagnoses, are imperative in obtaining diagnostic images and detection of related abnormalities, preventing delayed diagnosis and unfavorable patient outcome.

Palavras Chave

inferior vena cava; anomalies; computed tomography angiography.

Arquivos

Área

Cardiovascular