Anatomical observations on the renal veins and inferior vena cava at magnetic resonance angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the renal vein and inferior vena cava (IVC) anatomy found at abdominal magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.


METHODS
Gadolinium-enhanced, three-dimensional, time-of-flight MR angiograms of 150 patients were evaluated for the number and configuration of the renal veins, and the number, configuration, and dimensions of the IVC. Data were analyzed with the Student's t-test.


RESULTS
Retroaortic left renal veins were found in 7% of patients, circumaortic left renal veins in 5%, multiple right renal veins in 8%, and duplicated IVCs in 0.7%. The length of the infrarenal IVC averaged 94 mm in females and 110 mm in males (p < 0.00001). The length of the infrarenal IVC in patients with circumaortic and retroaortic left renal veins averaged 76 mm and 46 mm, respectively. The mean maximal caval diameter was 23.5 +/- 4 mm. No megacavae (diameter if the mid-IVC > 28 mm) were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Variant renal vein and IVC anatomy can be identified at MR angiography.
Kaufman
J A
JA
Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
Waltman
A C
AC
Rivitz
S M
SM
Geller
S G
SG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium