An interrupted inferior vena cava in a situs inversus. Case report and review of the literature

Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2009 Aug;68(3):184-7.

Abstract

Situs inversus with interrupted inferior vena cava is an uncommon anatomic variant found in the abdominal and thoracic viscera. In this report, we present a 59-year-old woman with this variation, found during gross anatomical dissection. While this type of variation has been variable, in the present case the hepatic veins drained directly into a very short (2.2 cm) inferior vena cava. The infrarenal component of the inferior vena cava was present and drained into the azygos and hemiazygos veins. Clinical considerations of this variant anatomy are of interest, as they may present in patients as pathology on cross sectional imaging.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Azygos Vein / abnormalities
  • Cadaver
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Female
  • Hepatic Veins / abnormalities
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Liver / blood supply
  • Middle Aged
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Portal Vein / abnormalities
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Situs Inversus / embryology*
  • Spleen / abnormalities
  • Spleen / blood supply
  • Thorax / blood supply*
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / abnormalities*
  • Vena Cava, Superior / abnormalities