{"title":"Cardiovascular CT angiography in systemic and pulmonary venous anomalies of the thorax","authors":"Camila Pietroski Reifegerste , André Vaz (Vaz A)","doi":"10.1016/j.clinimag.2025.110569","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thoracic venous anomalies are often asymptomatic and may go undetected by non-dedicated imaging studies. However, they have significant clinical relevance, as they can affect surgical planning, complicate interventional procedures, and predispose patients to pathological conditions such as arrhythmias, paradoxical embolism, and thrombosis. Understanding their embryologic development is critical for accurate diagnosis and differentiation from pathologic mimics. Major anomalies include left superior vena cava, retroaortic and retroesophageal left brachiocephalic veins, interruption of the inferior vena cava with azygos continuation, and various forms of anomalous pulmonary venous connections. Although many of these anomalies do not require surgical correction, their identification is essential to optimize procedural planning, particularly in patients with congenital heart disease where surgical modifications may be required. Failure to recognize these anomalies can lead to misdiagnosis, unnecessary interventions, and increased procedural risk. This review highlights the importance of identifying thoracic venous anomalies on imaging studies to ensure accurate diagnosis, prevent complications, and improve patient management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50680,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Imaging","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 110569"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical Imaging","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089970712500169X","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Thoracic venous anomalies are often asymptomatic and may go undetected by non-dedicated imaging studies. However, they have significant clinical relevance, as they can affect surgical planning, complicate interventional procedures, and predispose patients to pathological conditions such as arrhythmias, paradoxical embolism, and thrombosis. Understanding their embryologic development is critical for accurate diagnosis and differentiation from pathologic mimics. Major anomalies include left superior vena cava, retroaortic and retroesophageal left brachiocephalic veins, interruption of the inferior vena cava with azygos continuation, and various forms of anomalous pulmonary venous connections. Although many of these anomalies do not require surgical correction, their identification is essential to optimize procedural planning, particularly in patients with congenital heart disease where surgical modifications may be required. Failure to recognize these anomalies can lead to misdiagnosis, unnecessary interventions, and increased procedural risk. This review highlights the importance of identifying thoracic venous anomalies on imaging studies to ensure accurate diagnosis, prevent complications, and improve patient management.
期刊介绍:
The mission of Clinical Imaging is to publish, in a timely manner, the very best radiology research from the United States and around the world with special attention to the impact of medical imaging on patient care. The journal''s publications cover all imaging modalities, radiology issues related to patients, policy and practice improvements, and clinically-oriented imaging physics and informatics. The journal is a valuable resource for practicing radiologists, radiologists-in-training and other clinicians with an interest in imaging. Papers are carefully peer-reviewed and selected by our experienced subject editors who are leading experts spanning the range of imaging sub-specialties, which include:
-Body Imaging-
Breast Imaging-
Cardiothoracic Imaging-
Imaging Physics and Informatics-
Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine-
Musculoskeletal and Emergency Imaging-
Neuroradiology-
Practice, Policy & Education-
Pediatric Imaging-
Vascular and Interventional Radiology