Digital subtraction angiography, magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiographic findings in patients with an anomalous subaortic left brachiocephalic vein

Abstract

AbstractWe evaluated 6 patients with an anomalous subaortic left brachiocephalic vein. All cases were associated with some form of congenital heart disease: 4 patients had coexistent tetralogy of Fallot, one had congenitally corrected transposition, and the other an atrial septal defect with azygos connection of the inferior caval vein. Our incidence of an anomalous subaortic left brachiocephalic vein in patients with congenital heart diseases was 1.1% (6/527). It was observed in 4 out of 117 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (3.4%). Doppler echocardiography was useful in establishing the diagnosis. Furthermore, both digital subtraction angiography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated well the anomalous course of the vein, and were useful in making an accurate diagnosis.