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Persistent left superior vena cava

Case contributed by Paul Simkin
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Routine x-ray after vascath insertion.

Patient Data

Age: 65 years
Gender: Male

The left internal jugular central venous catheter (CVC) is seen in the left internal jugular vein and projected vertically into the left retrocardiac region, suggestive of a left sided superior vena cava (SVC).

A previous x-ray shows a correctly positioned right internal jugular CVC, indicating a right sided SVC is also present.

CT to further clarify anatomy

ct

CT shows the vascath positioned within the duplicated left superior vena cava, the tip at the junction of the proximal superior vena cava and the oblique vein of Marshall.

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