An esophago-atrial vein or fibrous cord in a top fold of the oblique sinus of the pericardial sac.
In a previous anatomical study of the oblique sinus of pericardium, we reported on the morphological variations of this recess. We noted a previously undescribed variation of its top in 32.7% of our cases. Here we detail this variation using microscopic and macroscopic mediastinal dissections of 107 adult fresh cadavers. It seems a top fold of the oblique sinus contains a permeable esophago-atrial vein or a fibrous cord. These unique variations of the oblique sinus modify the classical anatomical and embryological descriptions. Abnormal esophago-atrial veins have not been described previously but they are predictable according to embryological knowledge. From a clinical point of view, such a vein, permeable or not, may facilitate extension of esophageal carcinoma to the pericardium and may represent a porto-systemic bypass in cases of portal hypertension.
Chaffanjon
P C J
PC
Laboratory of Anatomy, Grenoble Medical University, 38706, La Tronche, France. pchaffanjon@med.miami.edu
Piolat
C
C
Palombi
O
O
Faure
C
C
Brichon
P-Y
PY
D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology