A case of double inferior vena cava with the connection to sacral venous plexus

Bilateral duplicated inferior vena cava associated with aberrant internal iliac and gonadal veins: A case-based narrative review

BACKGROUND

The left side anterior retroperitoneal approach is preferred for the management of lumbosacral spine disorders as there is reduced risk for vascular injury. The presence of multiple and uncommon venous variations on either side of the spine, like the bilateral duplicated inferior vena cava (DIVC), may complicate surgery in this region. The current study describes two rare cases of bilateral duplicated inferior vena cava associated with internal iliac and gonadal veins.

METHODS

The cases were identified during routine human dissections of the posterior abdominal wall of 89 (45 males, 44 females) individuals. The course, relations and morphometry of each duplicated inferior vena cava were examined and recorded.

RESULTS

Two (2.2%) of the 89 (1 male, 1 female) dissected individuals showed the presence of bilateral duplicated infrarenal segments of the inferior vena cava. In both cases, the pre-aortic trunk (vein) was the largest and the left inferior vena cava was the smallest. Both cases of bilateral DIVC presented with anomalous interiliac communicating veins, internal iliac veins, and drainage sites of the left gonadal veins.

CONCLUSIONS

The duplicated inferior vena cava may present with associated venous anomalies like those related to the gonadal and internal iliac veins. Knowledge of the duplicated inferior vena cava and its associated venous anomalies may be essential for accurately identifying and diagnosing vascular dysfunction and improving radiological interpretation across multiple surgical specialities.

Retroperitoneal lymphoma with double inferior vena cava shown using a 3D visualization model: A case report and literature review

Cases of a retroperitoneal tumor with double inferior vena cava (IVC) are rarely reported. The present report documents a case of a retroperitoneal lymphoma with double IVC, and discusses its embryological, clinical and radiological significance. In addition, previous cases of a double IVC are reviewed. In the present report, a 52-year-old male patient was hospitalized for a retroperitoneal lymphoma tumor and double IVC. CT urography was performed, whilst a three-dimensional visualization model was also established based on CT data, to reveal a retroperitoneal tumor with double IVC. The present case involved a double IVC with interiliac vein, which was type 2b from the left IVC. The retroperitoneal tumor was identified to be a lymphoma measuring 116x83 mm by percutaneous puncture biopsy. Surgical treatment is generally not recommended for lymphoma. Therefore, this patient was transferred to the Hematology Department for treatment according to the lymphoma management guidelines. The size of the tumor was reduced after chemotherapy during the patient's follow-up. In conclusion, the three-dimensional visualization model can directly and accurately present the anatomical features of the double IVC and its surrounding tissue structure. In addition, variations in the features of IVC can have important clinical significance. It is also important for surgeons, interventional radiologists and clinicians to understand such abnormalities in anatomical features to avoid misdiagnosis and reduce the occurrence of serious intraoperative complications.