title: Prenatal Diagnosis of a Retroesophageal Left Brachiocephalic Vein: Two Case Reports.
abstract: A retroesophageal left brachiocephalic vein is an extremely rare anomaly and has only been reported in 6 postnatal cases. Two prenatally diagnosed cases are reported. On the 3-vessel view, the vein appears as an aberrant vessel transversely coursing behind the aorta and trachea, which subsequently drains into the superior vena cava, giving rise to a U-shaped configuration. On color Doppler sonography, the U sign is bicolored. This anomaly should prompt the sonographer to carefully assess for other congenital heart defects, suggest consideration for genetic testing, and alert the cardiologist because it could affect central line procedures and cardiac interventions after delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yvonne Kwun Yue
authors.initials: YKY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kwok Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Law
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomic and Cellular Pathology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Pui Kwan
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chak
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomic and Cellular Pathology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ka Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: To
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yiu Man
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Tak Yeung
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000025:Abortion, Eugenic; D000328:Adult; D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*
keywords: anomalous left brachiocephalic vein; congenital heart disease; fetal echocardiography; obstetric ultrasound; prenatal diagnosis; retroesophageal left brachiocephalic vein