The role of MDCT to determine of vena cava inferior anomalies

Purpose: To investigate anomalies and variations of vena cava inferior in patients who had dynamic abdominal examinations with the high technology 64-detector row computed tomography, for any indication, and to search frequency of variations regarding embriological basis.Materials and Methods: Abdominal computed tomography examinations, performed in the Department of Radiology, Medical School of Dicle University between January 2008 and December 2009, of 528 (267 female, 216 male) adult patients were included in the study. All studies were acquired as dynamic computed tomography and computed tomography angiography, and venous phase of examinations were evaluated retrospectively.Results: Vena cava inferior anomalies and variations were searched in 528 patients. 267 (% 50.6) of these patients were female and, 261 (% 49.4) were male. No anomaly or variation was determined in 478 (% 90.5) of total 528 patients. 50 (%9.5) cases had vena cava inferior anomaly or variation. The most common variation was retroaortic left renal vein variation. Other anomalies and variations included circumaortic left renal vein variation, double vena cava inferior, left vena cava inferior, azygos continuation of vena cava inferior and interrupted vena cava inferior.Conclusions: Anomalies and variations of vena cava inferiorun can be correctly determined by multidetector computed tomography. Knowledge of computed tomography images of these anomalies yields correct diagnosis. Accurate definition is not only important for differential diagnosis, but also necessary for prevention of major complications before surgery.Key Words: Vena cava inferior, anomaly, variation, multidetector computed tomography