Author(s)

D. Tack, J. Jaucot, P. Gris, C. Delcour

Patient

male, 67 year(s)

Bronchial carcinoma. Chest CT scan perfomed for staging.

A chest-CT scan was obtained at admission for staging of a bronchial carcinoma. Afterwards a CT scan of the abdomen and a phlebography of the mediastinum were performed. Findings on CT scan and phlebography indicate a left azygos continuation with simultaneous absence of the inferior vena cava and the right azygos vein.

Left azygos continuation is an anatomical variant consisting of the absence of the right inferior vena cava and the continuation of the left inferior vena cava (LIVC) into the left azygos vein (LAV). The LAV usually runs into the right azygos vein (RAV), the azygos arch and the superior vena cava. In this patient, the left inferior vena cava continues into the left azygos vein with absence of the right azygos vein. As a consequence the venous blood from the abdomen reaches the superior vena cava through the left innominate vein (LIV). The anastomotic vein between the LAV and the LIV is an anterior variant of the left superior intercostal vein (LSYIV). This vein also called "veine de Braine" in the French literature is of small caliber and situated along the left border of the aortic arch. It may be seen on a PA chest radiography as an aortic notch.