Pancreatic Cancer Resection and Incidental Congenital Anomaly of the Inferior Vena Cava

Abstract

The inferior vena cava, due to its complex embryogenesis and relationship with other abdominal and thoracic structures, may develop abnormally. The anomalies and variations of inferior vena cava anatomy are very rare occurring in approximately 0.3% of the population. Among these latter, duplication of the inferior vena cava has an incidence of 2–3%. Usually, right inferior vena cava dominates and left inferior vena cava terminates in the right inferior vena cava at the level of the left renal vein. This condition may become problematic in surgical procedures and diagnoses. Herein, a very rare anatomic variation of inferior vena cava duplication was described in a patient who underwent pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer.