A Study Of The Variation And The Anatom Of The Left Adrenal Vein With MSCTA

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility of multi-slices CT angiography in investigating the left adrenal vein (LAV), and then the anatomy and variation of LAV were analyzed systematically.Materials and MethodsThe datum of arterial phase and venous phase in 400 patients who had undergone a contrast-enhanced CT scan of upper abdomen were analyzed retrospectively after they had been transferred to a workstation for multi-planar reformation,maximum intensity projection and volume rendering. The LAV that can be cofidently demonstrated was selected,and then the distance(D1) between left adrenal and the junction of the LAV and left inferior phrenic vein (LIPV), the distance(D2) between the junction of the LAV and LIPV and the junction of the LAV and left renal vein (LRV), the distance(D3) between the left lateral wall of the abdominal aorta(AA) and the junction of the LRV and LAV, the angle(a) between LRV and LAV and the diameter (y) of LAV were calculated.ResultsThe LAV was found in 94.5% of the 400 patients (378/400), The mean of D1,D2,D3,α,γwas 15.2±0.36mm,16.4±0.38mm,4.7±0.09mm,3.1±0.18mm,66±12.06°.Variation of LAV were found in 61 cases of 378 resulting the incidence of variation as 16.1%(61/378).(1) The left adrenal vein and the left inferior phrenic vein enter the left renal vein separately, the left adrenal vein enters the left renal vein near the kidney while the left inferior phrenic vein enters the left renal vein near the inferior vena cave。(Fig.9) (2) The left adrenal vein and the left accessory renal vein converge, and then enters the left renal. (Fig.10)(3) The left renal vein surround abdominal aorta, while the left adrenal vein enters the superior branch of circular loop. (Fig.2)(4) The left renal vein divides into two branches and the left adrenal vein enters the upper vein. (Fig.3)(5) Only the left adrenal central vein enters the renal vein on the upper edge of it, and the left inferior phrenic vein is not enter the left adrenal central vein. (Fig.11)(6) The left adrenal vein and an unknown vein converge, and then enters the left renal. (Fig.12)(7) The left adrenal vein and an unknown vein enter the left renal vein separately, the left adrenal vein enters the left renal vein near the inferior vena cave while the left inferior phrenic vein enters the left renal vein near the kidney. (Fig.13)ConclusionMSCTA permits consistent localization of LAV in high incidence, the anatomy and variations of LAV can be showed clearly and the reliable datum of LAV can be provided for operation.