Open AccessCongenital Anomalous Azygos Vein Drainage Causing Pulmonary Embolus in a 91-Year-Old Patient
Author(s) -
K.E. LOW,
P. N. S. Premathilake,
Lasanthi Pullaperuma,
Tammy Angel
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2284-2594
DOI - 10.12890/2021_002978
Subject(s) - medicine , azygos vein , embolus , radiology , thrombosis , brachiocephalic vein , pulmonary embolism , venous thrombosis , deep vein , cardiology , surgery , superior vena cava
Background: Retroaortic course and azygos continuation of aberrant left brachiocephalic vein is a rare venous anomaly, which is usually associated with congenital heart disease and pulmonary artery anomalies. Venous stasis is a cause of pulmonary arterial thromboembolism, which can result from venous anomalies. Case presentation: We describe the case of a 91-year-old female admitted to our hospital with shortness of breath diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and infarctions by a CT pulmonary angiogram. CT also showed aberrant left brachiocephalic vein with vascular webs at its retroaortic course and azygos continuation, suggesting chronic venous thrombosis, which was considered to be the suspected source of emboli. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report presenting this vascular anomaly manifesting with chronic venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Although rare, awareness and identification of this entity is important, especially in the absence of obvious embolic sources or in patients with recurrent embolus/consolidation.