Left superior vena cava (SVC) arises from confluence of ipsilateral subclavian and internal jugular veins
Typically drains to coronary sinus, occasionally to left atrium ± unroofed coronary sinus [i.e., coronary sinus atrial septal defect (ASD)]
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Angiographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
Echocardiographic Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Azizova A et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: clinical importance and differential diagnoses. Insights Imaging. 11(1):110, 2020
Aguilar JM et al: Left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium: clinical entities, diagnosis and surgical treatment. Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 112(2):135-43, 2019
Pineda AM et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: imaging correlation. J Invasive Cardiol. 30(5):E39-40, 2018
Thangaroopan M et al: Images in cardiovascular medicine. Rare case of an unroofed coronary sinus: diagnosis by multidetector computed tomography. Circulation. 119(16):e518-20, 2009
Kong PK et al: Unroofed coronary sinus and persistent left superior vena cava. Eur J Echocardiogr. 8(5):398-401, 2007
Piacentini G et al: Persistent left superior vena cava into unroofed coronary sinus. Lancet. 368(9551):1963-4, 2006
Sueyoshi E et al: Persistent left superior vena cava into left atrium. Lancet. 368(9543):1270, 2006
Gonzalez-Juanatey C et al: Persistent left superior vena cava draining into the coronary sinus: report of 10 cases and literature review. Clin Cardiol. 27(9):515-8, 2004
Eckart RE et al: Utility of magnetic resonance imaging in cardiac venous anatomic variants. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 26(3):309-11, 2003
Haramati LB et al: Computed tomography of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in adults. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 27(5):743-9, 2003
Ootaki Y et al: Unroofed coronary sinus syndrome: diagnosis, classification, and surgical treatment. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 126(5):1655-6, 2003
Tak T et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: incidence, significance and clinical correlates. Int J Cardiol. 82(1):91-3, 2002
Hahm JK et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of unroofed coronary sinus: three cases. Pediatr Cardiol. 21(4):382-7, 2000
Sarodia BD et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: case report and literature review. Respir Care. 45(4):411-6, 2000
Palacios-Macedo AX et al: Correction of anomalous systemic venous drainage in heterotaxy syndrome. Ann Thorac Surg. 64(1):235-7; discussion 237-8, 1997
Raptopoulos V: Computed tomography of the superior vena cava. Crit Rev Diagn Imaging. 25(4):373-429, 1986
Brown KT et al: Pseudoprominent aorta: radiographic findings and CT correlation. Radiology. 155(2):299-301, 1985
Fisher MR et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of developmental venous anomalies. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 145(4):705-9, 1985
Huggins TJ et al: CT appearance of persistent left superior vena cava. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 6(2):294-7, 1982
Baron RL et al: CT of anomalies of the mediastinal vessels. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 137(3):571-6, 1981
Lam W et al: Left-to-right shunt via left superior vena cava communication with left atrium. Chest. 79(6):700-2, 1981
Cha EM et al: Persistent left superior vena cava. Radiologic and clinical significance. Radiology. 103(2):375-81, 1972
Raghib G et al: Termination of left superior vena cava in left atrium, atrial septal defect, and absence of coronary sinus; a developmental complex. Circulation. 31:906-18, 1965
Campbell M et al: The left-sided superior vena cava. Br Heart J. 16(4):423-39, 1954
Winter FS: Persistent left superior vena cava; survey of world literature and report of thirty additional cases. Angiology. 5(2):90-132, 1954
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References
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Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Clinical Issues
Diagnostic Checklist
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC)
Definitions
Left superior vena cava (SVC) arises from confluence of ipsilateral subclavian and internal jugular veins
Typically drains to coronary sinus, occasionally to left atrium ± unroofed coronary sinus [i.e., coronary sinus atrial septal defect (ASD)]
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Angiographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
Echocardiographic Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Azizova A et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: clinical importance and differential diagnoses. Insights Imaging. 11(1):110, 2020
Aguilar JM et al: Left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium: clinical entities, diagnosis and surgical treatment. Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 112(2):135-43, 2019
Pineda AM et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: imaging correlation. J Invasive Cardiol. 30(5):E39-40, 2018
Thangaroopan M et al: Images in cardiovascular medicine. Rare case of an unroofed coronary sinus: diagnosis by multidetector computed tomography. Circulation. 119(16):e518-20, 2009
Kong PK et al: Unroofed coronary sinus and persistent left superior vena cava. Eur J Echocardiogr. 8(5):398-401, 2007
Piacentini G et al: Persistent left superior vena cava into unroofed coronary sinus. Lancet. 368(9551):1963-4, 2006
Sueyoshi E et al: Persistent left superior vena cava into left atrium. Lancet. 368(9543):1270, 2006
Gonzalez-Juanatey C et al: Persistent left superior vena cava draining into the coronary sinus: report of 10 cases and literature review. Clin Cardiol. 27(9):515-8, 2004
Eckart RE et al: Utility of magnetic resonance imaging in cardiac venous anatomic variants. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 26(3):309-11, 2003
Haramati LB et al: Computed tomography of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in adults. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 27(5):743-9, 2003
Ootaki Y et al: Unroofed coronary sinus syndrome: diagnosis, classification, and surgical treatment. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 126(5):1655-6, 2003
Tak T et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: incidence, significance and clinical correlates. Int J Cardiol. 82(1):91-3, 2002
Hahm JK et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of unroofed coronary sinus: three cases. Pediatr Cardiol. 21(4):382-7, 2000
Sarodia BD et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: case report and literature review. Respir Care. 45(4):411-6, 2000
Palacios-Macedo AX et al: Correction of anomalous systemic venous drainage in heterotaxy syndrome. Ann Thorac Surg. 64(1):235-7; discussion 237-8, 1997
Raptopoulos V: Computed tomography of the superior vena cava. Crit Rev Diagn Imaging. 25(4):373-429, 1986
Brown KT et al: Pseudoprominent aorta: radiographic findings and CT correlation. Radiology. 155(2):299-301, 1985
Fisher MR et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of developmental venous anomalies. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 145(4):705-9, 1985
Huggins TJ et al: CT appearance of persistent left superior vena cava. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 6(2):294-7, 1982
Baron RL et al: CT of anomalies of the mediastinal vessels. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 137(3):571-6, 1981
Lam W et al: Left-to-right shunt via left superior vena cava communication with left atrium. Chest. 79(6):700-2, 1981
Cha EM et al: Persistent left superior vena cava. Radiologic and clinical significance. Radiology. 103(2):375-81, 1972
Raghib G et al: Termination of left superior vena cava in left atrium, atrial septal defect, and absence of coronary sinus; a developmental complex. Circulation. 31:906-18, 1965
Campbell M et al: The left-sided superior vena cava. Br Heart J. 16(4):423-39, 1954
Winter FS: Persistent left superior vena cava; survey of world literature and report of thirty additional cases. Angiology. 5(2):90-132, 1954
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