ABSTRACT
Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital, thoracic, and vascular anomaly. Although PLSVCs generally do not have a hemodynamic effect, several types of PLSVC and some cardiac anomalies may manifest with clinical symptoms. The presence of PLSVC can render catheterization via left subclavian access difficult when placing a pacemaker or central venous catheter. As such, recognizing a PLSVC that is typically incidentally discovered can prevent complications such as vascular injury. Differentiating vessels found in a similar location as PLSVC is necessary when performing thoracic vascular procedures. This pictorial essay explains the multi-detector CT findings of a PLSVC, and provides a summary of other blood vessels that require differentiation during thoracic vascular procedures.
ABSTRACT
The levoatriocardinal vein is an uncommon pulmonary venous abnormality that connects the left atrium or pulmonary vein with the systemic vein. It is distinct from partial anomalous pulmonary venous return in that the former forms a connection with the left atrium through the normal pulmonary vein whereas the latter involves pulmonary venous drainage to the systemic vein. Herein, we describe a case of the levoatriocardinal vein initially misdiagnosed as a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation using chest radiography and chest CT. The levoatriocardinal vein combined with pulmonary venous varix was confirmed using pulmonary angiography.To the best of our knowledge, this unusual coexistence of the levoatriocardinal vein and pulmonary venous varix has not been reported in English literature.
ABSTRACT
The levoatriocardinal vein is an uncommon pulmonary venous abnormality that connects the left atrium or pulmonary vein with the systemic vein. It is distinct from partial anomalous pulmonary venous return in that the former forms a connection with the left atrium through the normal pulmonary vein whereas the latter involves pulmonary venous drainage to the systemic vein. Herein, we describe a case of the levoatriocardinal vein initially misdiagnosed as a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation using chest radiography and chest CT. The levoatriocardinal vein combined with pulmonary venous varix was confirmed using pulmonary angiography.To the best of our knowledge, this unusual coexistence of the levoatriocardinal vein and pulmonary venous varix has not been reported in English literature.
ABSTRACT
A distinct calcification pattern is one of the criteria for determining the malignancy of breast cancer according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. A mass almost entirely replaced by calcification, however, is difficult to categorize and likely to be misdiagnosed. We present the report of two patients with invasive carcinoma of the breast that presented as a mass replaced by calcification on mammography. In the first case, the mass was confirmed as a mixed carcinoma comprising mucinous and micropapillary carcinoma, and in the second case, the mass was a mucinous carcinoma. Diagnosis of cancer in the latter case was missed as the mass had been assessed as a category 2 typically benign calcification at the first screening mammography 2 years ago. This report merits publication because it shows that a mass replaced by calcification on mammography can be misdiagnosed as a benign finding.