Duplication of inferior vena cava

Last revised by Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod on 9 May 2023

Duplication of the inferior vena cava is a relatively rare but well described vascular anomaly. This caval abnormality had an increased association with renal anomalies like crossed fused ectopia or circumaortic renal collar 1,2.

The incidence of inferior vena cava duplication is reported to be ~1.5% (range 0.2-3%) 3.

Case reports of association with ureteropelvic junction anomaly and retrocaval ureters have been described 5.

Usually, an incidental detection, while evaluating genitourinary anomalies.

The inferior vena cava has a convoluted development during the 7-10th weeks of gestation 4.

  • posterior cardinal vein appears first but forms only the distal IVC i.e. iliac bifurcation.

  • subcardinal veins (2) appear next, left subcardinal vein regresses, and right subcardinal vein forms the suprarenal IVC.

  • supracardinal veins (2) appear last, left supracardinal vein regresses, and right supracardinal vein forms infrarenal IVC.

IVC duplication results from a persistent left supracardinal vein.

Duplicated left sided IVC is usually seen as a continuation of the left common iliac vein, crossing anterior to the aorta at the level of renal vein to join the right sided IVC. 

An important differential is transposition of IVC. The renal vein is an important landmark for this differential. IVC continues on both sides of the aorta, in duplicated IVC. However, in transposition of the IVC, it continues on the left side of the aorta only.

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