Summary
During an anatomic dissection of the posterior mediastinum, an unusual course of the interazygos v. was noted. The hemiazygos v. ascended to the 8th thoracic vertebra, in front of the vertebral column. It left the column, ascending obliquely, and passing in front of the aorta and behind the oesophagus. This transverse segment, crossing the midline, is called the interazygos v. It may be confused with different lesions situated at this level: aneurysm, tumour or lymph node hypertrophy, during CT or MRI studies. Secondly, the surgeon must be aware of this azygos variation as a possible cause of haemorrhage during a procedure in this region.
Résumé
Lors d’une dissection anatomique du médiastin postérieur, un trajet inhabituel de la v. interazygos a été constaté. La v. hemiazygos montait jusqu’ à la huitième vertèbre thoracique, en avant de la colonne vertébrale. Elle quittait la colonne, obliquement ascendante, passant en avant de l’aorte et en arrière de l’oesophage. Ce segment transversal, croisant la ligne médiane, est appelé la v. interazygos. On peut la confondre avec différentes lésions siégeant à ce niveau: anévrysme, tumeur, hypertrophie lymphonodale, lors d’une exploration par CT ou IRM. En second lieu, l’opérateur doit être conscient de cette variation azygos, cause possible d’hémorragie lors d’une intervention dans cette région.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Butler H, Balankura K (1952) Preaortic thoracic duct and azygos vv. Anat Ree 1 13:409
Gillot C (1993) Radioanatomie du système azygos inférieur, des veines ovariennes et spermatiques. Phlébologie 46:355–3888
Grzybiak M, Szostakiewics-Sawicka H, Treder A (1975) Remarks on pathways of venous drainage from the left upper intercostal spaces in man. Folia Morphol 34: 301–313
Hollinshead WH (1971) Anatomy for Surgeons, vol 2, 2nd edn. Harper and Row, Philadelphia
Lehur P-A (1976) Le système azygos. Aspects anatomiques et fonctionnels. CES Anat Générale, Nantes
Moore KL (1985) Clinically Oriented Anatomy. In: Seeon (ed) Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore
Pillet J, Mercier Ph, Cronier P, Moreau P, Leseale F (1986) La prolongation azygos isolée de la veine cave inférieur: absence du segment rétrohépatique de la VCl. Bull Assoc Anat 70: 69–74
Seib GA (1934) The azygos system of veins in American whites and American negroes, including observations on the inferior caval venous system. Am J Phys Anthropol 19: 39–163
Smathers RL, Lee JKT, Heiken JP (1983) Anomalous preaortic interazygos vein. J Comput Assist Tomogr 7: 732–733
Takasugi JE, Godwin JD (1990) CT appearance of the retroaortic anastomoses of the azygos system. AJR 154:41–44
Vilde J (1925). Der praeaortale Verlauf der V. hemiazygos. Acta Univ Latviensis 12: 393–404
Williams PL, Warwick R, Dyson M, Bannister LH (1989) Gray’s Anatomy, 37th British edn. Churchill Livingstone, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Çelik, H.H., Sargon, M.F., Aldur, M.M. et al. An anomalous course of the interazygos vein. Surg Radiol Anat 18, 61–62 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03207766
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03207766