Anatomical variants of the retroaortic left renal vein

A unique posterior nutcracker syndrome combined with Wilkie syndrome: A singular case

“…In normal anatomy, each kidney drains to the inferior vena cava (IVC) through a single vein. After receiving the left adrenal and gonadal veins, thus identifying a “proximal” and a “distal” segment [ 3 ], the LVR runs horizontally in front of the aorta and ends in IVC, commonly at the level of the first 2 lumbar vertebrae [ 4 ]. Anomalies in embryological development can, however, lead to the presence of variants: usually, a pair of renal veins, 1 ventral, and 1 dorsal, provide venous drainage during fetal life, thus forming a “collar” around the aorta itself.…”

“…Although rare and usually asymptomatic (can occasionally cause flank pain or hematuria), these variants are of considerable surgical importance if present: radiological diagnosis, therefore, plays a central role. Indeed, it is essential to know LVR anatomy to prevent complications in many surgical procedures like nephrectomy, kidney transplantation, treatment of abdominal aortic ectasia, and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy [ 3 ]. Although many classifications of left venal rein anomalies have been proposed [ 6 ], the most currently used 1 provides for 4 types of abnormality.…”