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Transposition of the inferior vena cava

Case contributed by Vincent Tatco
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Possible renal donor who underwent CT angiography of the renal arteries as part of work-up.

Patient Data

Age: 30
Gender: Male

Both kidneys are normal in size and position without lithiasis or hydronephrosis.  A 0.7 cm simple cyst is seen in the right kidney.

Each kidney is supplied by a renal artery and drained by a renal vein. 

The renal collecting systems are normal.

A single inferior vena cava (IVC) ascends from the left side and crosses anterior to the aorta at the level of the renal veins to further ascend to the right atrium at the right side.

Case Discussion

This case demonstrates transposition of the IVC, which is a congenital variant that results from the regression of the right supracardinal vein and persistence of the left supracardinal vein.  Typically, the left IVC ends at the left renal vein, which anteriorly crosses the aorta and forms a suprarenal IVC at the right.

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