CASE REPORT: PRESENCE OF A DILATED COMMUNICATING VEIN BETWEEN LEFT RENAL AND LEFT ASCENDING, LUMBER VEIN

Venous anomalies are commonly observed throughout the body during routine dissections or intra-operatively, but a communication between the left renal vein and the ascending lumbar vein has rarely been reported. In this case study a dilated communicating vein was observed connecting the left renal vein with the left ascending lumbar vein. The dilatation may be due to any obstruction in the left renal or inferior vena cava leading to incompetency of the venous valves and retrograde flow of blood causing varicosity in this communicating vein. The rest of the azygos venous system was normal on both sides. Though individuals having this dilated anomalous communication may be asymptomatic, nonetheless awareness regarding this communicating vein is of utmost importance for surgeons performing aorto-iliac and other retroperitoneal surgeries. It may also be confused with other pathologies like para-aortic lymphadenopathy, adrenal pseudo-mass etc. leading to difficulty in radiological diagnosis. Therefore information regarding the presence of this vein is of importance for radiologists and surgeons to avoid pre and post-operative complications.