title: Study of the association between an anomalous superior vena cava and horseshoe kidney.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of inferior vena cava anomalies in patients with horseshoe kidney is higher than that reported in the general population. As far as we know, no studies have reported the incidence and variations of superior vena cava (SVC) anomalies using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in patients with horseshoe kidney.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using MDCT, 71 patients with a horseshoe kidney (group A: 45 males, 26 females; mean age, 60.1 ± 10.2 years) and 2,292 patients without a horseshoe kidney (group B: 1,385 males, 907 females; mean age, 61.1 ± 13.5 years) were retrospectively evaluated for the incidence and variations of SVC anomalies, and the incidence of an anomalous SVC was compared between groups. An anomalous SVC was identified in 3 group A patients (4.2%) (double SVC, n=2; persistent left SVC without a right SVC, n=1) and 5 group B patients (0.22%) (double SVC, n=3; persistent left SVC without a right SVC, n=2). MDCT revealed a significantly higher incidence of anomalous SVC in patients with a horseshoe kidney than in those without a horseshoe kidney (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with horseshoe kidney frequently have an anomalous SVC. Although the incidence of horseshoe kidney is related in some way to that of an anomalous SVC, the reasons for their coexistence remain unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara 259-1193, Japan. tamaki-i@mars.sannet.ne.jp
authors.forename: Tamaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terachi
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Kojun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Torigoe
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*