UNILATERAL LEFT SUPERIOR VENA-CAVA AND AB SENT RIGHT-SIDED SUPERIOR VENA-CAVA - CARDIOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS AND FINDINGS

Cardiological and radiological findings in a 64-year-old patient with persistent left superior vena cava and absent right-sided superior ven a cava are described. Presence of a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is considered to be one of the most frequent anomalies of the systemic venous return. It occurs most often in association with a ri ght-sided superior vena cava and only in rare cases with an absent or atretic right-sided superior vena cava. This malformation is often ass ociated with other congenital heart defects, but without major hemodyn amic significance. The variation may cause difficulties in venous cath eterization, pacemaker electrode insertion or during cardiopulmonary b ypass. The diagnosis can be confirmed by angiography, computed tomogra phy and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.