Abstract
Subjects with persistent left superior vena cava were classified on the basis of the presence and thickness of both superior venae cavae, the anastomotic ramus between the superior venae cavae (anastomotic ramus), and the presence of both azygos veins. Among subjects with persistent left superior vena cava, the percentage of those with weak development of the anastomotic ramus (41.5 %) or absence of an anastomotic ramus (35.8 %) was 77.3 %. In addition, 54.7 % of subjects had a left azygos vein. However, 88.7 % of subjects had a right azygos vein. In this classification, the most frequently observed types included the presence of both superior venae cavae, an anastomotic ramus, and both azygos veins (20.8 %). During student dissection practice sessions performed on 337 cadavers that were carried out from 2002 through 2010, a subject having a left superior vena cava (in 2002) and a subject having both superior venae cavae (in 2003) were detected. The former case was reported previously. The latter case is reported in this paper. The incidence of persistent left superior vena cava was 0.59 % (2/337 cadavers).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abe K (1964) An abnormal case of the coronary sinus with no opening into the right atrium (a case of the so-called left superior vena cava) (in Japanese with an English abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 39(5/6):249–251
Abe T, Yanai K, Hirata-Hibi M, Oh M (1984) A case of a bilateral superior vena cava with an abnormal azygos vein system (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 59(5):671
Adachi B (1928) Das Arteriensystem der Japaner, Bd 1 (in German). Kenkyusha, Tokyo, pp 135–137
Adachi B (1933) Das Venensystem der Japaner, Bd1 (in German). Kenkyusha, Tokyo, pp 68–76
Akiyama S, Nakanishi T, Iwasaki S, Abe T (1965) A case of unilateral left superior vena cava. Fukushima J Med Sci 12(3/4):137–145
Aso M (1931) Ein Fall von Verdoppelung der Vena cava superior bei einem Japanischen Fötus (in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 4:492–497
Chen H, Hayakawa D, Emura S, Takahashi T, Ozawa Y, Shoumura S (2003) A case of persistent left superior vena cava with bilateral thoracic ducts (abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 78(Suppl):334
Chiba T, Inoue K, Yoshida Y (1971) A case of a left superior vena cava without any corresponding vessel on the right side (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 46(3 Suppl):I-2
Chiba S, Nasu H, Mikuni Y (2009) Anatomical findings of each case of abnormal course of left brachiocephalic vein and double superior venae cavae (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 84(2):47
Donadio N (1925) Ein Fall von Verdoppelung der Vena cava superior (in German). Anat Anz 59:321–327
Fujimoto Y, Okuda H, Yamamoto M (1972) A case of the bilateral superior venae cavae with some other anomalous veins. Okajimas Fol Anat Jpn 48:413–426
Hayakawa D, Chen H, Emura S, Tamada A, Jamali M, Yamahira T, Terasawa K, Isono H, Shoumura S (1997) A case of double superior venae cavae (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 72(6):555
Hirasawa K, Okamoto M (1982) Anatomy 2: angiology and nervous system (in Japanese). Kanehara Shuppan, Tokyo, pp 110–148
Iga K (2010) A case of double superior vena cava with coinciding anomalous jugular venous system (abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 85(Suppl):199
Iimura A, Oguchi T, Shibata M, Matsuo M, Takahashi T (2011) Double superior vena cava and anomaly of cardiovascular system with a review of the literature. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn 88(1):37–42
Inoue K, Masuko S (1980) An anomalous case of the double superior venae cavae with the bilaterally symmetrical azygos veins (abstract; in Japanese). J Chiba Med Soc 56:215–216
Ishikawa T, Hashimoto I, Kawasaki K, Goto H, Tanaka H, Kodera H, Inoue K, Sawamura H, Tanaka M, Shimanuki Y (1979) A case of the double superior venae cavae (in Japanese). Tsurumi Shigaku 5(2):43–48
Ishizawa A, Zhou M, Abe H (2007) Anomalous venous system in the human heart. Anat Sci Int 82:242–246
Isono H, Sakurai S, Fujii H (1970) A case of duplication of the superior vena cava in a Japanese male cadaver. Acta Scholae Med Univ Gifu 17:356–364
Kaneko U (2000) Circulatory system. In: Kaneko K, Akita M (eds) Japanese human anatomy (in Japanese), vol 2. Nanzando, Tokyo, pp 141–167
Kawabuchi M, Doi N, Kanaseki T, Nagai M (1983) A case of double superior venae cavae and two cases of double inferior venae cavae (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 58(6):653–654
Kawai K, Kodo K, Yasuda Y, Yoshinaga K (1995) V.cava superior sinistra (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 70(Suppl):S134
Kikkawa F (1961) A case of double superior venae cavae (in Japanese). J Nippon Med Sch 28(9/10):1395–1396
Kitagawa T, Tezuka M, Kawamura R (1963) A case of persistent left superior vena cava (so-called double superior venae cavae) (abstract; in Japanese). J Nippon Med Sch 22:870
Kitashima S, Hirao T, Sakaino M, Saga T, Yamaki K (2004) A case of persistent left superior vena cava with an anomaly of the celiac trunk (abstract). Anat sci int 79(Suppl):291
Kodama K (1931) Persistenz des Ductus Cuvieri sinister bei einem Japaner (in German). Okajimas Fol Anat Jpn 9:365–369
Kodama J, Nagato S, Nakamura T, Fuji H (1998) A case of double superior venae cavae (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 73(4):426
Konishi M, Kikuchi M (1991) A case of persistent left superior vena cava with a horseshoe kidney (in Japanese with an English abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 66(6):524–536
Kurihara K, Kuroda N, Murai T, Yanagida J, Watanabe H (1989) Reconsideration of organ weight in Japanese (1). Heart (in Japanese with an English abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 64:495–499
Masuko S, Inoue K (1982) A case of the double superior venae cavae and an anomalous left hepatic vein opening directly into the right atrium (in Japanese with an English abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 57(4):169–174
Matsumoto T, Tanoue Y, Arihara K (1963) A anomalous cases detected at the time of routine dissection of systematic anatomy. III. A case of the double superior vena cava (in Japanese). J Kansai Med Coll 15:73–77
McCotter RE (1916) Three cases of the persistence of the left superior vena cava. Anat Rec 10(5):371–383
Miura M (1897) Congenital anomaly in vessels (in Japanese). Tokyo Med J 11:817–819
Miyaki T, Sakai T (2001) A case of light and left superior venae cavae (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 76(1):102
Mori K, Moriwaki K (1941) A case of bilateral superior venae cavae (in Japanese). Kyoto Med J 38:513–514
Mori C, Hashimoto H, Hoshino K (1990) Two cases of double superior vena cava. Jpn Heart J 31(6):881–888
Mukai I, Nomura K (1934) A case of left superior vena cava (in Japanese). Hokkaido Med J 12:2028–2038
Murakami T (1996) Human heart mainly consisting of left-sided elements. Discussion based on the dissection of the left superior vena cava (in Japanese with an English abstract). Okayama Med J 108:297–301
Murakami M, Nagano S, Fukuda H (1957) Über 2 Fälle von der Persistenz der linken oberen Hohlvene (in Japanese with a German abstract). J Kurume Med Assoc 20:133–139
Nagashima S, Otsuka K, Yamaki K, Miyazaki M (1988) A case of double superior venae cavae (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 63(3):197
Nandy K, Blair CB (1965) Double superior venae cavae with completely paired azygos veins. Anat Rec 151:1–10
Nishii H, Suga Y (1939) Ein Sektionsfall von verdoppelten oberen Hohlvenen (in Japanese with a German abstract). Okayama Med J 51:206–211
Ogura K, Tanuma K, Asakawa M, Kitazawa M, Suzuki M, Kikkawa F (1982) Bilateral superior caval veins report of two cases (in Japanese with an English abstract). J Nippon Med Sch 49:277–284
Ohkubo M, Yoshida Y (1976) A case of bilateral superior caval veins (in Japanese with an English abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 51:251–256
Omori I, Shimamoto T (1956) A case of the heart that had the left superior vena cava, and didn’t have part of normal coronary sinus (in Japanese). Kagoshima Med J 29:19–21
Otsuka N (1961) Ein Fall mit Doppelter Vena Cava Superior bei Einer Japanischen Frau (in Japanese with a German abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 36(3):298–304
Outi H, Unehira M (1964) A case of anomalous left hepatic vein directly opening to the right atrium, combined with left superior vena cava (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 39(6 Suppl):VIII5–VIII6
Ozawa Y, Hayakawa D, Chen H, Yano R, Emura S, Isono H, Shoumura S (2000) A case of double superior venae cavae (abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 75(4):387
Sadler TW (2004) Venous system. In: Langman’s medical embryology, 9th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 261–269
Sakai A (1964) A rare anomalous case of the right subclavian artery as the last branch of the aortic arch with the bilateral superior venae cavae and the high division of the right radial artery in the adult (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 39:116–117
Sakamoto H, Honjyo A, Morimoto T, Yamaguchi S, Yamamoto H (1967) A case of double superior caval vein. J Nara Med Assoc 18:466–468
Sakamoto Y, Akita K, Sato T (1993) A case of double superior vena cava that left superior vena cava didn’t anastomose to coronary sinus (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 68(3):364
Sato H (1952) A case of double superior venae cavae (in Japanese). Fukushima Med J 2:183–188
Shoumura S, Hayakawa D, Emura S, Tamada A, Terasawa K, Yamahira T, Isono H (1995) A case of double superior venae cavae (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 70(Suppl):S99
Suenaga Y, Inoue K, Terashima T, Inoue Y (1983) A case of the bilateral superior venae cavae (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 58(4):408
Tadokoro O (2009) A case of double superior caval vein associated with paired azygos veins and aberrant muscle bands in the right ventricle (in Japanese with an English abstract). Matsumoto Shigaku 35(1):17–22
Tagawa T, Ando K (1975) A case of the double superior vena cava. Med Bull Fukuoka Univ 2(4):355–364
Tagawa T, Ando K, Iijima T (1976) Another case of the double superior vena cava and classification of its Japanese cases so far reported. Med Bull Fukuoka Univ 3(3):259–269
Takagi T, Osuga T (1968) A case of bilateral superior venae cavae with paired azygos veins in a Japanese male. Acta Anat Nippon 43:131–137
Takagi T, Nozaka Y, Ohsawa T (1982) Double superior venae cavae with bilateral inferior venae cavae. Acta Anat Nippon 57:9–14
Takenoshita H (1986) Persistent left superior vena cava with paired azygos veins—report of a case and an attempt at new classification (in Japanese, with an English abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 61:669–682
Tohno S, Azuma C, Tohno Y, Sano R, Sawada Y, Shimizu A, Jimura H (2008) A case of double renal pelvis and ureters associated with double superior venae cavae. J Nara Med Assoc 59(5):183–187
Totinai I, Ohta T (1944) A case of double superior venae cavae (in Japanese). Iwate Med Coll 7:82–87
Tsuchiya H, Hashimoto O, Kimura A, Ishizuka H (1982) A case of double superior vena cava with an anomalous branch of the left vertebral artery (in Japanese with an English abstract). J Med Sch Toho 29(1):132–137
Uemura M, Takemura A, Ehara D, Yasumitsu H, Ohnishi Y, Suwa F (2009) Left superior vena cava with the left azygos vein. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn 86(2):55–60
Wake H (1954) Unu kazo de maldekstra supra kavvejno. Medicina Revuo 2:41–44
Yamada S (1934) Über zwei Fälle von Verdoppelung der Vena cava superior (in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 7:348–356
Yamadori T, Takashima S, Takashima S (1966) A case of the double superior vena cava (in Japanese, with an English abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 41(4):213–221
Yamamoto S (1939) Zwei Fälle seltener Missbildungen (in Japanese with a German abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 13:262–276
Yamamoto T (1971) A case of bilateral superior venae cavae (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 46(3 Suppl):II-3
Yano M, Sato T (1980) A case of the double inferior venae cavae with the persistent left superior vena cava (in Japanese with a English abstract). Acta Anat Nippon 55:224–240
Yoshida K (1983) A case of double superior vena cava (abstract; in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 58(4):463
Yoshida Y, Ohashi T, Takano K, Kusaka H (1957) A case of the double cranial caval vein. Mie Med J 7(1):95–99
Acknowledgments
We are indebted to the staff of the Department of Anatomy for their advice and encouragement.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Uemura, M., Suwa, F., Takemura, A. et al. Classification of persistent left superior vena cava considering presence and development of both superior venae cavae, the anastomotic ramus between superior venae cavae, and the azygos venous system. Anat Sci Int 87, 212–222 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-012-0149-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-012-0149-7