Vascular anomalies in a case of  situs inversus

R.J. Jr Kulesza; J.K. Kalmey; B. Dudas; W.R. Buck

Vol 66, No 1 (2007)

Case report

Submitted: 2012-02-06

Published online: 2006-12-14

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Vascular anomalies in a case of situs inversus

R.J. Jr Kulesza, J.K. Kalmey, B. Dudas, W.R. Buck

Folia Morphol 2007;66(1):69-73.

Vol 66, No 1 (2007)

CASE REPORTS

Submitted: 2012-02-06

Published online: 2006-12-14

Abstract

Situs inversus is a developmental condition in which the thoracic and abdominal organs fail to negotiate their normal migration patterns and the result is a mirror-image arrangement of these viscera. The literature provides evidence that individuals with this condition have a higher incidence of other congenital malformations (e.g. heart anomalies). Here we describe the dissection of a 71 yearold female cadaver with situs inversus, in which we discovered multiple anomalous vessels associated with the coeliac trunk directed toward the liver. In addition, we identified the inferior vena cava on the left side and a persistent supracardinal vein on the right, constituting a double inferior vena cava. Finally, we identified multiple abnormal venous channels associated with the sub-renal inferior vena cava. These vascular patterns are indeed a rare finding and have surgical implications but may indicate a higher incidence of vascular anomalies in cases of situs inversus.