Persistent left superior vena cava

Infobox_Disease
Name = Persistent left superior vena cava


Caption =
DiseasesDB =
ICD10 = Q26.1
ICD9 = ICD9|747.49
ICDO =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus =
eMedicineSubj =
eMedicineTopic =
MeshID =
In anatomy, a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most common variation of the thoracic venous system, [Pahwa R, Kumar A. Persistent left superior vena cava: an intensivist's experience and review of the literature. South Med J. 2003 May;96(5):528-9. PMID 12911199.] [Gonzalez-Juanatey C, Testa A, Vidan J, Izquierdo R, Garcia-Castelo A, Daniel C, Armesto V. Persistent left superior vena cava draining into the coronary sinus: report of 10 cases and literature review. Clin Cardiol. 2004 Sep;27(9):515-8. PMID 15471164.] is prevalent in 0.3% of the population, [Freedom RM, Culham JAG, Moes CAF. Angiography of Congenital Heart Disease. Macmillan Publishing Co., New. York, 1984. URL: http://www.learningradiology.com/archives03/COW%20061-Persistent%20Left%20SVC/leftsvccorrect.htm. Accessed on March 24, 2006.] and an embryologic remnant that results from a failure to involute.

In PLSVC, the left brachiocephalic vein does not develop fully and the left upper limb and head & neck drain into the right atrium via the coronary sinus. The variation, in insolation, is considered benign, but is very frequently associated with cardiac abnormalities (e.g. ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular septal defect) that have a significant mortality and morbidity. [Berg C, Knuppel M, Geipel A, Kohl T, Krapp M, Knopfle G, Germer U, Hansmann M, Gembruch U. Prenatal diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava and its associated congenital anomalies. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Mar;27(3):274-80. PMID 16456841.] It is more frequent in patients with congenital heart defects. [Bjerregaard P, Laursen HB. Persistent left superior vena cava. Incidence, associated congenital heart defects and frontal plane P-wave axis in a paediatric population with congenital heart disease. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1980 Jan;69(1):105-8. PMID 7368902.]

References

External links

* [http://www.learningradiology.com/archives03/COW%20061-Persistent%20Left%20SVC/leftsvccorrect.htm Radiograph of a persistent left SVC] - learningradiology.com.