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Case Reports
. 2018 Nov 6;6(13):666-670.
doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v6.i13.666.

Bilateral thoracic kidneys combined with inferior vena cava located behind the anterior abdominal wall: A case report and review of literature

Xiao-Xia Peng  1 , Shao-Ang Cheng  1 , Qi-Lian Liang  2 , Xing-Bo Luo  1 , Xiao-Cui Hong  1 , Gao-Le Yuan  1 , Hui-Jie Zhang  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Bilateral thoracic kidneys combined with inferior vena cava located behind the anterior abdominal wall: A case report and review of literature

Xiao-Xia Peng et al. World J Clin Cases. .

Abstract

Ectopic thoracic kidneys are the rarest form of renal ectopia. Moreover, congenital abnormality of a primary anterior inferior vena cava (IVC) located behind the anterior abdominal wall is extremely rare. To date, only one such case has been reported. Herein, we report a rare case of a 55-year-old Chinese male with bilateral thoracic kidneys combined with an anterior IVC, a malformed liver, and a large-round-folds navel. The classification, clinical characteristics, and management options of a thoracic kidney was also summarized by literature review. To our best knowledge, the simultaneous detection of such multiple complex abnormalities has not been reported.

Keywords: Congenital anomaly; Ectopic kidney; Inferior vena cava; Renal ectopia; Thoracic/intrathoracic kidney.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography in arterial phase demonstrates the thoracic kidneys. A: Transverse view scan shows the upper pole of the kidney (arrows), above the liver, is surrounded by the lower lobe of lung; B: Coronal view scan shows the kidneys (arrows) located immediately below the diaphragm, with part of the kidney protruding into the thorax; C: Sagittal view scan shows kidney (arrows) located immediately below the diaphragm.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography in venous phase shows heterotopic inferior vena cava located behind the anterior abdominal wall. A: Sagittal view scan demonstrates the suprarenal segment of the inferior vena cava (IVC) coursed cranially and anteriorly along the space between the liver and diaphragm and bridged hepatic segment and the renal segment; B: Transverse view scan shows the suprarenal segment of the IVC crossed through the liver and drained into the anterior IVC; C: Transverse view scan shows the hepatic IVC (arrow) was located posterior to the anterior abdominal wall.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography in venous phase from cranial to caudal positions shows a liver with abnormal morphology. A: Transverse view scan above the hilar level of kidney shows the malformed liver (arrows); B: Transverse view scan at the hilar level of kidney shows the malformed liver (arrows); C: Transverse view scan below the hilar level of kidney shows the malformed liver (arrows).
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