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Case Reports
. 2006 Jan 26:4:6.
doi: 10.1186/1476-7120-4-6.

A case of absent right and persistent left superior vena cava

Attila Pálinkás  1 , Edit Nagy, Tamás Forster, Zita Morvai, Endre Nagy, Albert Varga
Affiliations
Case Reports

A case of absent right and persistent left superior vena cava

Attila Pálinkás et al. Cardiovasc Ultrasound. .

Abstract

Background and purpose: Our case report deals with the importance of detailed echocardiographic examination for differential diagnosis of coronary sinus dilation and development of abnormalities of great thoracic veins.

Case presentation: A 49-year-old man underwent transthoracic echocardiography for atypical chest pain. A dilated coronary sinus was found and venous contrast echocardiography raised the suspicion of absent right and persistent left superior vena cava. Transesophageal echocardiography showed absence of right superior vena cava. The echocardiographic findings were confirmed by upper venous digital subtraction cavography.

Conclusion: combination of agenesia of right SVC and isolated persistent left SVC in adult patients is a very rare abnormality. Both clinicians and sonographers should be alerted to the possible presence of this combined venous anomaly. Transthoracic echocardiograpy - including agitated saline infusion to the antecubital vein - is an important diagnostic tool for accurate diagnosis of this congenital thoracic venous malformation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Parasternal long axis two-dimensional echocardiographic view showing dilated coronary sinus. (LA = left atrium, LV = left ventricle, CS = coronary sinus).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Modified apical 4 chamber two-dimensional echocardiographic view showing dilated coronary sinus with 2.8 cm in diameter. (LA = left atrium, LV = left ventricle, CS = coronary sinus)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Injection of agitated saline into both left and right antecubital vein results in filling of coronary sinus first followed by the filling of the right atrium (LA = left atrium, LV = left ventricle, CS = coronary sinus).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Transesophageal echocardiography in right atrial long axis two-dimensional echocardiographic view demonstrates absence of right vena cava superior (black star) (LA = left atrium, RA= right atrium).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Upper venous digital subtraction cavography which indicates absence of the right superior vena cava and a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) in the left lateral part of the thorax (white arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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