Deep vein thrombosis in patient with left-sided inferior vena cava draining into the hemiazygos vein: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Abnormalities of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are uncommon, and in many cases they are asymptomatic. Even so, it is vital that clinicians be aware of such anomalies prior to surgery in affected individuals. In the present report, we describe a rare anatomical variation of the IVC.

CASE SUMMARY

A 66-year-old male was admitted to the hospital due to deep vein thrombosis of the right lower extremity. Upon contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging, we found that this patient presented with a case of left-sided IVC draining into the hemiazygos vein, while his hepatic vein was directly draining into the atrium.

CONCLUSION

Cases of left-sided IVC can increase patient susceptibility to thromboembolism owing to the resultant changes in blood flow and/or associated vascular compression.

Key Words: Left-sided inferior vena cava; Deep vein thrombosis; Hemiazygos vein; Anatomic variation; Case report

Core Tip: We found that one patient with deep venous thrombosis had left-sided inferior vena cava draining into the hemiazygos vein, while his hepatic vein was directly draining into the atrium. It is vital that clinicians be aware of such anomalies prior to surgery in affected individuals.

INTRODUCTION

As noninvasive vascular imaging technologies have become increasingly advanced, a number of different anatomic variations in the structure of the inferior vena cava (IVC) have been observed in clinical practice. The development of the IVC is complex and relies upon the formation of connections between three paired embryonic veins, resulting in multiple potential variations in the overall venous architecture. It is important that medical professionals understand these variations and their clinical implications so that they can properly diagnose and treat patients affected by conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 66-year-old male presented with pain and edema of the right leg for 2 d.

History of present illness

Pain and edema of the right leg for 2 d prior to hospital admission, no fever, chest pain, or dyspnea.

History of past illness

Multiple soft tissue injuries caused by falls 12 d before admission.

Personal and family history

The patient had no remarkable personal or family history.

Physical examination

Swelling of the right lower extremity with palpable pitting edema, normal skin temperature, and a good arterial pulse within this extremity.

Laboratory examinations

At the time of admission, the patient had a D-dimer level of 2789 ng/mL (NG, 0-500 ng/mL).

Imaging examinations

At the time of admission, color Doppler ultrasonography revealed right iliac-femoral vein thrombosis with decreased distal blood flow velocity. In order to accurately assess the anatomy of the retroperitoneal venous system in this patient, contrast-enhanced computed tomography was conducted after the thrombolysis procedure, which revealed that the right common iliac vein was located behind the left common iliac artery and was clearly compressed and stenotic. Many collateral vessels had formed in the pelvic cavity, and the left iliac vein was significantly wider than that on the right side. Abnormal left-sided IVC drainage was the result of the union of the two common iliac veins at the level of the 4^th lumbar vertebra. It ascended vertically to the left side of the abdominal aorta where it connected with the left and right renal vein at the levels of the 2^nd and 3^rd lumbar vertebrae, respectively. The right renal vein additionally crossed posteriorly to the abdominal aorta. The left-sided IVC continued to ascend and intersected with the hemiazygos vein at the level of the 2^nd lumbar vertebra, after which it crossed posteriorly to the left diaphragm crura and entered the thorax. It then ascended through the posterior mediastinum to the left of the four inferior thoracic vertebrae, crossing posteriorly to the thoracic aorta and the azygos vein at the level of 8^th thoracic vertebra, arching over the root of the right lung and joining the right superior vena cava at the level of the 5^th thoracic vertebra. There was no retrohepatic IVC or right IVC in this patient, and the hepatic vein drained directly into the right atrium (Figures 1 and 2). No other anatomic anomalies were detected in this patient, and echocardiographic findings were normal.

Figure 1 Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealing a case of left-sided inferior vena cava draining into the hemiazygos vein with the hepatic vein directly draining into the atrium. 1: The hepatic vein directly draining into the atrium; 2: The abdominal aorta; 3: The left-sided inferior vena cava; 4: Right iliac vein stenosis; 5: Collateral vessels.

Figure 2 Three-dimensional reconstructed lateral and frontal views of the left inferior vena cava, vertebrae and the azygos venous system. A: T8: 8^th thoracic vertebra; B: T12: 12^th thoracic vertebra; C: T5: 5^th thoracic vertebra.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

DVT of right lower extremity, variation of IVC, multiple soft tissue injuries.

TREATMENT

When the patient underwent phlebography, a rare anatomical variation in the structure of the IVC was detected. Specifically, the patient exhibited a case of left-sided IVC draining into the hemiazygos vein. The renal vein drained into the left-sided IVC below its typical anatomic position. The patient was treated for DVT of the lower right extremity via catheter-directed thrombolysis and experienced significant symptom improvement after 4 d. Subsequent phlebography revealed right iliac vein stenosis with collateral vessel formation. As the primary symptoms associated with this case of DVT had been alleviated, no further treatment of iliac vein stenosis was administered other than warfarin anticoagulant therapy.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

The swelling of the right lower extremity disappeared, and the limbs were not swollen after exercise. Color Doppler ultrasound examination showed that the right lower extremity vein was unobstructed, and there was no recurrence of thrombus.

DISCUSSION

There have been several previous reports of anatomic IVC variability[1]. Azygos continuation of the IVC has, in previous reports, been described as the absence of the hepatic segment of the IVC with azygos continuation. Overall, this anatomic variation has a 0.6% prevalence and is thought to arise due to a failure of right subcardinal-hepatic anastomosis during embryonic development, which ultimately causes the right subcardinal vein to atrophy. There have been even fewer reports of hemiazygos continuation of left-sided IVC[2]. In most cases, IVC anomalies present from birth are asymptomatic and are only discovered incidentally when patients are undergoing abdominal surgery or imaging evaluations[3-5]. As such, the true prevalence of IVC anomalies is likely higher than current estimates. These anomalies have been diagnosed and studied using a range of techniques, with helical computed tomography being an efficient and reliable modality that is commonly used for such evaluations[6].

Hemiazygous IVC continuation can result in dilatation that may be misinterpreted as a mediastinal or paracardiac mass upon radiographic assessment. Patients with this continuation are additionally at risk of accidental ligation of the IVC during thoracic surgery[7]. It is therefore essential that such anatomic variations be preoperatively identified using appropriate imaging techniques in order to minimize the risk of surgical complications in affected individuals.

In the present case, phlebography led to the diagnosis of DVT of the right leg as well as the presence of a rare anatomical variation wherein the patient exhibited left-sided IVC draining into the hemiazygos vein. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging revealed that the right common iliac vein was behind the left common iliac artery with clear evidence of stenosis and compression. In addition, several collateral vessels were evident within the pelvic cavity, and the left iliac vein was significantly wider than that on the right side. Cases of left-sided IVC can increase patient susceptibility to thromboembolism owing to the resultant changes in blood flow and/or associated vascular compression.

CONCLUSION

There have been few prior reports of left-sided IVC draining into the hemiazygos vein, suggesting that this is a relatively rare anatomical variation. This structural anomaly may be clinically relevant to the development, treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolic events in affected individuals.