Duplication of the inferior vena cava: Case report of an incidental radiological finding

Duplication of the inferior vena cava (DIVC) is a congenital anomaly resulting from a disturbance in the embryonic development of the cardinal and sub-cardinal veins. It is characterized by the presence of 2 parallel venous segments, each draining a hemi-body, and joining at lumbar or thoracic level to form the normal inferior vena cava (IVC). Azygos continuation of the IVC is a rarer anomaly, corresponding to the absence of the hepatic segment of the IVC and the persistence of the azygos vein, which drains venous blood from the caudal segments towards the superior vena cava. We report the case of a 34-year-old patient, admitted for surgical treatment of a segment I hepatic cyst, in whom a DIVCI with continuation and retro aortic left renal vein, were discovered incidentally during abdominopelvic computed tomography with contrast injection.