Double Superior Vena Cava and Coexisting Vascular Variants: A Case Report and Review of Clinical Implications

A double superior vena cava is a rare congenital vascular variation that may influence cardiovascular function and medical procedures. This report describes the morphology of a double superior vena cava identified in the body of an 87-year-old female donor. Anatomical dissection revealed two fully isolated superior venae cavae, with the right superior vena cava draining into the right atrium and the left superior vena cava draining into the coronary sinus. The brachiocephalic veins were absent, and the azygos system displayed an atypical configuration. The left external jugular vein also showed significant variation, featuring a superiorly located fenestration followed by a bifurcation that formed a venous ring encircling the clavicle. The anterior interventricular artery tunnelled into the myocardium, forming two myocardial bridges along the anterior interventricular sulcus before reaching the cardiac apex. These findings illustrate the diversity of vascular anatomy and emphasize the importance of recognizing such variants during diagnostic imaging and medical procedures.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-12-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.99531
Primary Topic
Vascular anomalies and interventions
Type
article
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article

Double Superior Vena Cava and Coexisting Vascular Variants: A Case Report and Review of Clinical Implications

William Paganini Mayer, Daniel Deschênes
Cureus
Vascular anomalies and interventions
article

Double Superior Vena Cava and Coexisting Vascular Variants: A Case Report and Review of Clinical Implications

William Paganini Mayer, Daniel Deschênes
article en

Abstract

A double superior vena cava is a rare congenital vascular variation that may influence cardiovascular function and medical procedures. This report describes the morphology of a double superior vena cava identified in the body of an 87-year-old female donor. Anatomical dissection revealed two fully isolated superior venae cavae, with the right superior vena cava draining into the right atrium and the left superior vena cava draining into the coronary sinus. The brachiocephalic veins were absent, and the azygos system displayed an atypical configuration. The left external jugular vein also showed significant variation, featuring a superiorly located fenestration followed by a bifurcation that formed a venous ring encircling the clavicle. The anterior interventricular artery tunnelled into the myocardium, forming two myocardial bridges along the anterior interventricular sulcus before reaching the cardiac apex. These findings illustrate the diversity of vascular anatomy and emphasize the importance of recognizing such variants during diagnostic imaging and medical procedures.

CureusVol. 17(12)
Saint John Regional Hospital (CA)
Openalex Percentile: Top 39%
Vascular anomalies and interventions
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