Aberrant supra-diaphragmatic renal artery

Abstract

We present a rare case of aberrant supra-diaphragmatic renal artery originates at the level of T12 piercing the right hemi diaphragm and entering the hilum of the right kidney. Variations in renal arteries are quite common, and it is very important for renal interventionists to have a good knowledge about the possibility of anatomical variations in renal arteries. The most common reported variations are early division and accessory vessels, however, other rare variations like higher origin of renal arteries, as reported in this case report, should also be taken in consideration. The importance of these variations arise from the increase number of renal interventional procedures performed by interventional radiologists, urologists and general surgeons; in interventional radiology it is very important to know the possibility of higher origin renal artery in order to cover this vessel when performing conventional angiography. It is also important for urologists when performing renal transplant. The embryology of renal arteries dictates the possibility of these variations; theoretically, renal arteries can arise from the aorta along the whole length of rete arteriosum urogenitale which extends from cervical 6th to lumbar 3rd vertebra.