Fig. 15
From: Persistent left superior vena cava: clinical importance and differential diagnoses
A comprehensive summary of differential diagnoses of PLSVC. The course of the most frequent PLSVC variation (right atrial drainage via coronary sinus) and the courses of possible differential diagnoses are shown as columns with axial CT images from superior to inferior. For depicting the expected flow direction of vascular structures, the upstream zones are marked with darker shades, whereas the downstream zones with lighter shades. Red arrows represent pulmonary veins. Blue circles are used to depict systemic venous structures, while red circles are used to show the BT shunt, which is an interarterial structure. Orange circles represent the mass. In the column of Glenn shunt, the course of PLSVC is shown with solid blue circles while the course of RSVC is shown with hollow blue circles. Please note that (1) in the second row of the figure, all differential diagnoses of PLSVC are observed to be in a similar location in the mediastinum. (2) While two vascular structures are seen in front of the left main bronchus in the presence of PLSVC, no vascular structure is seen in this area in the presence of VV with PAPVD. (3) Expected flow directions fo VV and LACV are caudocranial, unlike other vascular structures shown in the figure. Also, LACV is located in the posterior of the pulmonary artery, unlike PLSVC, which is located anterior to the pulmonary artery