Abstract:

Objective To discuss the left renal vein anatomy at multi-detector row CT and the implicationsfor living renal transplantation. Methods The left renal vein anatomy and the branches in 79 living renal transplantation donors who underwent contrast-enhanced CT angiography were analyzed retrospectively in this study. Maximum intensity projection, curve planar reformation and volume renderings were used for displaying the left renalvein anatomy. Anomalies of left renal vein and branches were recorded and classified. Results Left renal veinswere all visualized on late arterial and venous phase CT images in all subjects. There were one case of circumaortic renal vein（n ＝ 1）and one case of left inferior vena cava（n ＝ 1）. 0 or 1 adrenal vein，0 to 2 lumbar veins and 0 to2 gonadal veins were found in each donor. Conclusion Among the left renal vein branches, the number of lumbar vein varied more frequently，multiple gonadal veins were detected in some subjects. Left renal vein branches shouldbe handled carefully to avoid massive haemorrhage in left nephrectomy.