title: Thoracic renal artery: a rare variant. A case study and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Variations in the course of paired renal arteries are common and are known causes of iatrogenic injury. However, a thoracic origin of the renal artery is rare and poses a greater risk for iatrogenic injury especially during thoracic endovascular or surgical interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe a renal artery variant, its clinical implications in the context of procedural interventions, and to provide a literature review on renal artery variations.
  
  
  METHODS
  An abdominal CT scan with IV contrast was obtained using a GE 64-slice helical CT scanner with subsequent sagittal, coronal, and 3-D reformations. A literature review was performed using Index Medicus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Right renal artery variant arising from the thoracic aorta at the lower aspect of the T10 vertebral body, coursing posteroinferiorly through the right diaphragmatic crux before reaching the right kidney hilum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A thoracic origin of the renal artery is an uncommon but important risk factor for vascular injury during endovascular and surgical interventions especially in the thorax. 3-D CT or CT angiography prior to an indicated procedure may prove useful for pre-interventional planning.
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Miami, FL, 33140, USA, LawrenceDelasotta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Delasotta
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Cuong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media