A rare anomaly of left renal vein drainage into the left common iliac vein: A case report

Abstract

HighlightsWe report a rare anomaly of the left renal vein in a sigmoid colon cancer patient.We identified the variation before surgery by CT-angiography.By identifying the anomaly, the laparoscopic colon surgery was performed safely.

Unusual Drainage of the Bifurcated Left Renal Vein Into a Dilated Lumbar Azygos Vein and Inferior Vena Cava

“…14 The most common ones include multiple renal veins, circumaortic venous ring, and retroaortic renal veinlocated orthotopically or passing obliquely downward. 14,15 Rare anomalies represent common iliac termination of the left renal vein, singular or 1 of the 2 veins, or 1 of the bifurcated branches, 6,[16][17][18] and a casuistic case represents an additional posterior left renal vein draining to the left ascending lumbar vein. 19 However, the communicating vein between the left renal vein and left ascending lumbar is reported with a much higher prevalence of 35%.…”

A single left renal vein draining into the common iliac vein

“…The most common course of the left renal vein is posterior to the superior mesenteric artery, anterior to the aorta, and cranial to the inferior mesenteric artery, where it drains into the inferior vena cava. [ 2 ] There are several reports of variations in the left renal vein drainage; common variants include a retroaortic left renal vein and circumaortic left renal vein with a reported incidence of 0.5%–3.1% and 0.02%, respectively. 3 In this case, a single main left renal vein received drainage from the left suprarenal, ovarian, and lumbar veins as it traveled in the left para-aortic space caudally and eventually drained in the left common iliac vein.…”

“…reported one case of two left renal veins: one retroaorta drained into the inferior vena cava and the other drained into the left common iliac vein. [ 2 ]…”

Retroaortic left renal vein (RLRV) draining into the left common iliac vein: a rare variant and its clinical implication

“…The RLRV is a rare variant, with an incidence of 0.5%–3.1% 1. There are four subtypes of the RLRV which include: (1) type 1, where the RLRV joins the IVC in the orthotopic position; (2) type 2, where the RLRV joins the gonadal and ascending lumbar veins prior to joining the IVC at the level of the fourth to fifth lumber vertebral bodies; (3) type 3 is a RLRV which consists of both anterior and retroaortic left renal veins (circumaortic) prior to joining the IVC and (4) type 4, where the ventral preaortic limb of the left renal vein is obliterated and the dorsal limb persists as a RLRV, coursing obliquely and caudal behind the aorta to join the left common iliac vein 2.…”

“…This results in rupturing of the thin-walled septum between the vessels and the renal pelvis causing microscopic and gross haematuria. Moreover, with passage of small blood clots, flank pain can occur 1 3 5 6. Consequently, congested kidneys and renal infarcts secondary to the vascular compromise may lead to bacterial colonisation and abscess formation.…”