title: A potential pitfall of pelvic computed tomography.
abstract: The cross-sectional areas of the common iliac veins were measured by pelvic computed tomography (CT) in 51 patients. The left common iliac vein was significantly larger than the right (p less than 0.01) and in 35% of patients there was at least a two-fold difference between the cross-sectional areas of the veins. Recognition of this normal asymmetry is important when interpreting pelvic CT scans. It is thought to be due to the oblique course of the left common iliac vein and to partial obstruction of the left common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Meanock
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed