Aneurysm of the Communicating Vein Between the Left Renal Vein and Left Ascending Lumbar Vein Mimicking Retroperitoneal Lymphadenopathy: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION

Aneurysm of the communicating vein between the left renal vein and left ascending lumbar vein is extremely rare, with only anecdotal reported cases. Unless detected and recognized promptly, this rare condition may give rise to severe bleeding in patients undergoing retroperitoneal surgery. It may also closely mimic enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes, paragangliomas, adrenal masses, or renal artery aneurysms.

CASE REPORT

In this case study, we reported the imaging findings of this rare entity, which was falsely diagnosed as an enlarged retroperitoneal lymph node in an outside medical center, reported to be consistent with metastatic disease in a patient with newly diagnosed testicular cancer.

CONCLUSION

The aneurysm of the communicating vein should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with testicular cancer and other disease processes where lymph nodes are commonly affected.

Anomalous connection of the left posterior renal vein with the left ascending lumbar vein in a Japanese cadaver

A rare variation was found in one of the two left renal veins in a 94-year-old male cadaver undergoing routine dissection. The characteristic findings in the cadaver included, in addition to the primary left renal vein, the presence of a posterior left renal vein draining to the left ascending lumbar vein without communicating with the inferior vena cava and other renal veins. Variations in the number and arrangement of the vessels terminating in the renal veins are common, but to our knowledge, variation similar to our findings has not been previously reported. This variation may represent an immature form of the complicated development of the renal vessels.