title: Anomalies of the inferior vena cava: a report of two cases and a short review of the literature.
abstract: The inferior vena cava, also known as the posterior vena cava, is the large vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the right atrium of the heart. Congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava result from the persistence of the embryonic venous system. The majority of cases are clinically silent and are diagnosed in routine dissection studies, in retroperitoneal surgeries, or through imaging for other reasons. Although these anomalies are rare, they are of great importance during operations in the abdominal area or in the treatment of thromboembolic diseases. We report two cases of double vena cava and left vena cava, respectively, and a short review of the relevant literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Medical School of Alexandroupolis, Greece. kastegepe@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapetanakis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimitrakopoulou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiska
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*