Duplication of Inferior Vena Cava with Left Inferior Vena Cava Draining into Right Inferior Vena Cava - A Case Report

Abstract

Double inferior vena cava is a rare anomaly with incidence rate of 0.2 - 3 %. It occurs due to non-regression of both right and left supracardinal veins during embryonic development. Here, we present a case with double inferior vena cava diagnosed in a patient who underwent routine computed tomography for abdominal pain. In our case, both right and left inferior vena cava are of same caliber and we believe that duplication of IVC in our case was a result of nonregression of anastomosis between left supra subcardinal, posterior subcardinal and intersubcardinal veins resulting in persistence of left subcardinal vein. The knowledge of this anatomical variation is clinically important during retroperitoneal surgeries and vascular and radiological interventional procedures. Inferior vena cava anomalies are rare and incidentally found in asymptomatic patients who undergo radiological imaging for some other diseases. The reported incidence of duplicated inferior vena cava is 0.2 to 3 %. Among all the inferior vena cava anomalies, inferior vena cava duplication and left inferior vena cava are most commonly found. 1,2 Vascular anomalies often get encountered in computed tomography (CT) scans of abdomen and pelvis obtained with contrast injection. Familiarity with these variations is essential for correct interpretation.3 Here, we present a case of duplication of inferior vena cava with left IVC draining into right IVC at upper border of L2 vertebral level.