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Venoatrial Abnormalities

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Congenital Heart Diseases in Adults

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

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Abstract

Congenital anomalies of thoracic veins can be subdivided into systemic and pulmonary anomalies. This group of pathologies is not uncommon. The most common systemic thoracic venous anomalies are: persistent left superior vena cava, retroaortic left brachiocephalic vein, and azygos continuation of inferior vena cava. The pulmonary venous anomalies can be separated into partial and total anomalous returns. They have a broad spectrum of presentations and can be associated with other congenital heart malformations. Most systemic venous anomalies are incidental findings whereas pulmonary venous malformations can have a relatively benign course like partial anomalous pulmonary venous return to a more severe critical disease like an obstructed pulmonary venous return. Also, total anomalous pulmonary venous return induces cyanosis and should be corrected surgically as soon as possible. Although echocardiography remains the initial noninvasive imaging modality, an accurate characterization and diagnosis of these anomalies can be obtained by CT or MR imaging. However, MRI stays the cross-section modality of choice because, in addition to providing a comprehensive assessment of the cardiac anatomy, it can accurately quantify shunts, ventricular size, and function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Imaging Department, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175, Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3T 1C5

    Chantale Lapierre M.D.

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  1. Chantale Lapierre M.D.
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Correspondence to Chantale Lapierre M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Chirurgisches Klinikum München Süd, Munich, Germany; Radiology, Internistisches Klinikum München Süd, Munich, Germany

    Sebastian Ley

  2. Department of Radiology, Pediatric Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Julia Ley-Zaporozhan

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Lapierre, C. (2017). Venoatrial Abnormalities. In: Ley, S., Ley-Zaporozhan, J. (eds) Congenital Heart Diseases in Adults. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2017_82

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2017_82

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-61886-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61888-3

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