Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Not applicable, Obstruction / Occlusion, Neoplasia, Education, Contrast agent-intravenous, CT, Veins / Vena cava, Vascular, Anatomy
Authors:
L. Delgado Fernandez, M. Alhambra, P. Álvarez Vallespín, B. Díaz Barroso, J. C. De Coll Vela, M. A. Cruz Díaz; Alcalá de Henares. Madrid/ES
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2020/C-07786
Background
The inferior vena cava is the main venous return duct from the lower extremities and abdominal viscera to the right atrium.
It is associated with a wide spectrum of congenital anatomical variants, as well as their main branches. Most of these variants are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally.
To understand the different anatomical variants, we must rely on the embryology of the inferior vena cava, since it reflects an abnormal regression, persistence or anastomosis of the veins of the embryo.
Among the anomalies of the inferior vena cava we find the complete or segmental absence with or without associated anomalies of the left renal vein, duplication, left location, continuation with the azygos and hemiazygos.
In addition, we will discuss some pathologic entities which are related or can affect to the inferior vena cava, such as extrinsic compressions (different ethiologies), thrombus and malignant tumors arising in adjacent organs and tissues.