SUPERNUMERARY RIGHT RENAL VEIN DRAINING INFERIOR TO THE MAIN RENAL VEIN: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

With recent increase in renal transplantations, renovascular reconstructions and imaging advances, meticulous knowledge of the normal and variant anatomy of the renal vasculature is important to avoid potential pitfalls. We report a case of an accessory renal vein arising from the right kidney, and draining into the inferior vena cava about 3.5 cm inferior to the right renal vein. It was a large vein, coursing at an acute angle from the renal hilum in the same direction as the ureter, and emptying into the inferior vena cava just proximal to its formation by the common iliac veins. The importance of this occurrence in surgery and therapeutics, as well as the embryological basis is reviewed.