Right top pulmonary vein: evaluation with 64 section multidetector computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence and anatomic features of the rare variant of the pulmonary veins named "right top pulmonary vein" as depicted with 64 section multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).


METHODS
MDCT of 610 patients obtained over 12 months period for diagnosis of suspected thoracic or cardiac pathology were routinely reviewed in transverse and 3D images. The frequency of right top pulmonary vein (RTPV) was determined and anatomic features were also documented.


RESULTS
Right top pulmonary vein (RTPV) is a supernumerary vein arising from the roof of the right part of the left atrium separately from the orifice of the right superior pulmonary vein. It crosses behind the intermediate bronchus and drains mainly posterior segment of the right upper lobe but also receives few subsegmental branches of superior segment of the right lower lobe. It was detected in 2.2% of patients (14/610). The mean diameter of RTPV was 5.1 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
The RTPV is a rare venous drainage variation of pulmonary veins. It is important to be aware of this anatomic pattern for avoiding misinterpretation of pulmonary venographic findings, inadvertent ablation of pulmonary vein and perioperative bleeding during video assisted thorocoscopic lobectomy.
Arslan
Gokhan
G
Department of Radiology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Dumlupınar Bulvarı, Arapsuyu 07070, Antalya, Turkey. Electronic address: garslan@akdeniz.edu.tr.
Dincer
Elvan
E
Department of Radiology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Dumlupınar Bulvarı, Arapsuyu 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
Kabaalioglu
Adnan
A
Department of Radiology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Dumlupınar Bulvarı, Arapsuyu 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
Ozkaynak
Can
C
Department of Radiology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Dumlupınar Bulvarı, Arapsuyu 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*