link
Bookmarks
Chest
Diagnosis
Developmental Abnormalities
Systemic Circulation
Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava
Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava
Claudio Silva, MD, MSc, MBA
To access 4,300 diagnoses written by the world's leading experts in radiology, please log in or subscribe.Subscribe
0
6
1
0

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

                                              1. Azizova A et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: clinical importance and differential diagnoses. Insights Imaging. 11(1):110, 2020
                                              2. 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
                                              3. Pineda AM et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: imaging correlation. J Invasive Cardiol. 30(5):E39-40, 2018
                                              4. 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
                                              5. Kong PK et al: Unroofed coronary sinus and persistent left superior vena cava. Eur J Echocardiogr. 8(5):398-401, 2007
                                              6. Piacentini G et al: Persistent left superior vena cava into unroofed coronary sinus. Lancet. 368(9551):1963-4, 2006
                                              7. Sueyoshi E et al: Persistent left superior vena cava into left atrium. Lancet. 368(9543):1270, 2006
                                              8. 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
                                              9. Eckart RE et al: Utility of magnetic resonance imaging in cardiac venous anatomic variants. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 26(3):309-11, 2003
                                              10. Haramati LB et al: Computed tomography of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in adults. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 27(5):743-9, 2003
                                              11. Ootaki Y et al: Unroofed coronary sinus syndrome: diagnosis, classification, and surgical treatment. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 126(5):1655-6, 2003
                                              12. Tak T et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: incidence, significance and clinical correlates. Int J Cardiol. 82(1):91-3, 2002
                                              13. Hahm JK et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of unroofed coronary sinus: three cases. Pediatr Cardiol. 21(4):382-7, 2000
                                              14. Sarodia BD et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: case report and literature review. Respir Care. 45(4):411-6, 2000
                                              15. 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
                                              16. Raptopoulos V: Computed tomography of the superior vena cava. Crit Rev Diagn Imaging. 25(4):373-429, 1986
                                              17. Brown KT et al: Pseudoprominent aorta: radiographic findings and CT correlation. Radiology. 155(2):299-301, 1985
                                              18. Fisher MR et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of developmental venous anomalies. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 145(4):705-9, 1985
                                              19. Huggins TJ et al: CT appearance of persistent left superior vena cava. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 6(2):294-7, 1982
                                              20. Baron RL et al: CT of anomalies of the mediastinal vessels. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 137(3):571-6, 1981
                                              21. Lam W et al: Left-to-right shunt via left superior vena cava communication with left atrium. Chest. 79(6):700-2, 1981
                                              22. Cha EM et al: Persistent left superior vena cava. Radiologic and clinical significance. Radiology. 103(2):375-81, 1972
                                              23. 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
                                              24. Campbell M et al: The left-sided superior vena cava. Br Heart J. 16(4):423-39, 1954
                                              25. Winter FS: Persistent left superior vena cava; survey of world literature and report of thirty additional cases. Angiology. 5(2):90-132, 1954
                                              Related Anatomy
                                              Loading...
                                              Related Differential Diagnoses
                                              Loading...
                                              References
                                              Tables

                                              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

                                                                                          1. Azizova A et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: clinical importance and differential diagnoses. Insights Imaging. 11(1):110, 2020
                                                                                          2. 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
                                                                                          3. Pineda AM et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: imaging correlation. J Invasive Cardiol. 30(5):E39-40, 2018
                                                                                          4. 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
                                                                                          5. Kong PK et al: Unroofed coronary sinus and persistent left superior vena cava. Eur J Echocardiogr. 8(5):398-401, 2007
                                                                                          6. Piacentini G et al: Persistent left superior vena cava into unroofed coronary sinus. Lancet. 368(9551):1963-4, 2006
                                                                                          7. Sueyoshi E et al: Persistent left superior vena cava into left atrium. Lancet. 368(9543):1270, 2006
                                                                                          8. 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
                                                                                          9. Eckart RE et al: Utility of magnetic resonance imaging in cardiac venous anatomic variants. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 26(3):309-11, 2003
                                                                                          10. Haramati LB et al: Computed tomography of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in adults. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 27(5):743-9, 2003
                                                                                          11. Ootaki Y et al: Unroofed coronary sinus syndrome: diagnosis, classification, and surgical treatment. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 126(5):1655-6, 2003
                                                                                          12. Tak T et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: incidence, significance and clinical correlates. Int J Cardiol. 82(1):91-3, 2002
                                                                                          13. Hahm JK et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of unroofed coronary sinus: three cases. Pediatr Cardiol. 21(4):382-7, 2000
                                                                                          14. Sarodia BD et al: Persistent left superior vena cava: case report and literature review. Respir Care. 45(4):411-6, 2000
                                                                                          15. 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
                                                                                          16. Raptopoulos V: Computed tomography of the superior vena cava. Crit Rev Diagn Imaging. 25(4):373-429, 1986
                                                                                          17. Brown KT et al: Pseudoprominent aorta: radiographic findings and CT correlation. Radiology. 155(2):299-301, 1985
                                                                                          18. Fisher MR et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of developmental venous anomalies. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 145(4):705-9, 1985
                                                                                          19. Huggins TJ et al: CT appearance of persistent left superior vena cava. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 6(2):294-7, 1982
                                                                                          20. Baron RL et al: CT of anomalies of the mediastinal vessels. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 137(3):571-6, 1981
                                                                                          21. Lam W et al: Left-to-right shunt via left superior vena cava communication with left atrium. Chest. 79(6):700-2, 1981
                                                                                          22. Cha EM et al: Persistent left superior vena cava. Radiologic and clinical significance. Radiology. 103(2):375-81, 1972
                                                                                          23. 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
                                                                                          24. Campbell M et al: The left-sided superior vena cava. Br Heart J. 16(4):423-39, 1954
                                                                                          25. Winter FS: Persistent left superior vena cava; survey of world literature and report of thirty additional cases. Angiology. 5(2):90-132, 1954