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Case Reports
. 2025 Jun 10;17(6):e85700.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.85700. eCollection 2025 Jun.

An Uncommon Anatomical Variation: Passage of the Ovarian Artery Through a Fenestrated Ovarian Vein in an Elderly Female Cadaver

Marisa Knott  1 , Mykyta Lyashenko  1 , Justin Nguyen  1 , Samantha Thurman  1 , Codi Vernace  1 , Matthew Wofford  1 , Uzochukwu Adabanya  2 , Matthew D Overturf  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

An Uncommon Anatomical Variation: Passage of the Ovarian Artery Through a Fenestrated Ovarian Vein in an Elderly Female Cadaver

Marisa Knott et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Ovarian vein fenestration is an extremely rare vascular anomaly characterized by the temporary splitting and rejoining of the ovarian vein. Unlike duplication, fenestration involves a single vein dividing into multiple channels before converging again; it is often discovered incidentally during imaging or surgical procedures. This case report highlights a rare anatomical variant involving the ovarian artery and vein observed in an elderly female cadaver. During the routine dissection of a 93-year-old female's abdominopelvic region, we observed that the left ovarian artery passed through a fenestrated segment of the left ovarian vein. Although there have been few reports of fenestrations in the left ovarian vein, the traversing of such a fenestration by the ovarian artery remains unprecedented. This anatomical peculiarity has significant clinical implications, particularly in pelvic congestion syndrome, interventional radiology, and gynecologic surgery, due to its potential to complicate diagnosis and procedural outcomes.

Keywords: anatomical variation; cadaveric case report; embryological development; fenestrated ovarian vein; ovarian artery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Left ovarian artery passing through a fenestrated left ovarian vein
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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