Retro Aortic Left Renal Vein With Advanced Rcc: A Case Report With Literature Review

Abstract

Acquiring insight into variations in anatomical course of renal veins is of importance for operative procedure in this region. These variations are consequent on developmental aberrations. A normal preaortic course of LRV can vary and be like retroaortic, circumaortic or additional LRV & left inferior vena cava with retroaortic right renal vein. Estimated prevalence of RLRV is ~2%. We aimed at its recognition on cross sectional imaging and clinical implications. Middle aged male presenting with complain of hematuria, left ank pain, anorexia, weight loss and past history of right nephrectomy for renal stone 30 years back found to have a large left renal mass lesion with few liver lesions on ultrasound, subsequently subjected to triple phase CT abdomen. On CT a retroaortic left renal vein with markedly dilated tributaries and a large left renal mass lesion with hepatic, pulmonary and left adrenal metastases were detected. A thorough review of relevant literature was done post imaging. RLRV can be an incidental nding easy to detect on CT. Sound knowledge of renal vein variations is useful prior to interventional procedure in this region in symptomatic patients