Variations in the Number and Drainage Levels of Retroaortic Left Renal Veins

Year 2021, Volume: 11 Issue: 4, 515 - 518, 31.07.2021

Şerife Leblebisatan , Bozkurt Gülek

https://doi.org/10.16899/jcm.741846

Abstract

Abstract
Aim: Circumaortic left renal vein (CLRV) and retroaortic left renal vein (RLRV) are the most common variations of the left renal vein and have a retroaortic course. We aimed to detect the anatomical variations of retroaortic left renal veins in terms of their number and entrance levels into the inferior vena cava (IVC).
Materials and Methods: The computed tomographic (CT) images of 2804 patients who had undergone abdominal CT examinations in our hospital between May 1, 2017, and June 30, 2017, were evaluated.
Results: CLRV variations were detected in 139 (4.96%) patients, while in another 132 (4.71%) RLRV variations were detected. Double branches were present in 15 (10.8%) patients in the RLRV group, and 3 patients (2.3%) in the CLRV group. The most common drainage levels into the IVC for these variations were the L3 vertebra level and the middle 1/3 infrarenal IVC segment.
Conclusion: CLRV and RLRV may possess single or double retroaortic branches. The entrance levels into the IVC are various in these variations. Knowing these variations is important for surgical and interventional procedures.

Keywords

renal veins, vena cava, computed tomography

References

• Dilli A, Ayaz UY, Kaplanoğlu H, Saltas H, Hekimoglu B (2013) Evaluation of the left renal vein variations and inferior vena cava variations by means of helical computed tomography. Clinical Imaging 37(3):530-5.
• Sabouri S, Hosseini A, Shivaei SS (2015) Retro-aortic inverted left renal vein: a rare anomaly found in a renal donor. Iranian journal of radiology 22;12(2).
• Sutariya HC (2016) Dual Retro-Aortic Left Renal Vein with Drainage into Left Common Iliac Vein: Rare Anomaly of Left Renal Vein. International Journal of Organ Transplantation Medicine 7(2):99-101.
• Pallangyo P, Lyimo F, Nicholaus P, Masatu S, Janabi M (2016) Bilateral anomalous drainage of the posterior divisions of renal veins into the azygos system in a 20-year-old woman: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports 10:344.
• Brancatelli G, Galia M, Finazzo M, Sparacia G, Pardo S, et al. (2000) Retroaortic left renal vein joining the left common iliac vein. European Radiology 10(11):1724-5.
• Karaman B, Koplay M, Ozturk E, Basekim CC, Ogul H, et al. (2007) Retroaortic left renal vein: multidetector computed tomography angiography findings and its clinical importance. Acta Radiol 48(3):355-60.
• Nguyen BD (2006) Multi-detector CT Imaging of Double Left Renal Veins. Radiology Case Reports 1(2): 47-49.
• Matsunaga M, Ushijima T, Fukahori M, Miwa K (2015) A circumaortic left renal vein. BMJ Case Reports 11;2015.
• Ayaz S, Ayaz ÜY (2016) Detection of retroaortic left renal vein and circumaortic left renal vein by PET/CT images to avoid misdiagnosis and support possible surgical procedures. Hellenic Journal of Nuclear Medicine 19(2):135-9.
• Satyapal KS (1999) Infra-renal angles, entry into inferior vena cava and vertebral levels of renal veins. The Anatomical Record 256(2):202-7.