A case of absent right superior vena cava with persistent left superior vena cava: cross-sectional echocardiographic diagnosis

Abstract

We report a case of absence of the right superior vena cava. Hitherto, the findings in this condition have only been obtained using invasive methods; this report is the first in which the diagnosis was made by means of echocardiography. The findings include a markedly enlarged coronary sinus draining into the right atrium and a specific finding of contrast echocardiography in which contrast material injected into the right antecubital vein can be seen in the enlarged coronary sinus. The contrast echo flows into the right atrium from the coronary sinus only. The size of the coronary sinus was far beyond the range (91 +/- 38 mm2/m2) in patients with persistent left superior vena cava with the presence of the right superior vena cava.