RESUMO
Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital, thoracic, and vascular anomaly. Although PLSVCs generally do not have a hemodynamic effect, several types of PLSVC and some cardiac anomalies may manifest with clinical symptoms. The presence of PLSVC can render catheterization via left subclavian access difficult when placing a pacemaker or central venous catheter. As such, recognizing a PLSVC that is typically incidentally discovered can prevent complications such as vascular injury. Differentiating vessels found in a similar location as PLSVC is necessary when performing thoracic vascular procedures. This pictorial essay explains the multi-detector CT findings of a PLSVC, and provides a summary of other blood vessels that require differentiation during thoracic vascular procedures.
RESUMO
The levoatriocardinal vein is an uncommon pulmonary venous abnormality that connects the left atrium or pulmonary vein with the systemic vein. It is distinct from partial anomalous pulmonary venous return in that the former forms a connection with the left atrium through the normal pulmonary vein whereas the latter involves pulmonary venous drainage to the systemic vein. Herein, we describe a case of the levoatriocardinal vein initially misdiagnosed as a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation using chest radiography and chest CT. The levoatriocardinal vein combined with pulmonary venous varix was confirmed using pulmonary angiography. To the best of our knowledge, this unusual coexistence of the levoatriocardinal vein and pulmonary venous varix has not been reported in English literature.