Prenatal diagnosis of persistent left superior vena
Prenatal diagnosis of persistent left superior vena
cava and its associated congenital anomalies
C. BERG*, M. KN¨ UPPEL*, A. GEIPEL*, T. KOHL*, M. KRAPP†, G. KN ¨ OPFLE‡, U. GERMER§, M. HANSMANN* and U. GEMBRUCH*
*Department of Prenatal Medicine and Obstetrics, University of Bonn, and ‡Department of Pathology, Rheinische
Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universit ¨ at, Bonn, †Division of Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital
Schleswig-Holstein, Campus L¨ ubeck and §Department of Prenatal Medicine, University of Regensburg, Germany
Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) represents the
most common form of anomalous systemic venous return
in adults. It has been observed in 0.3% of autopsies in
the general population and in 4–8% of patients with
congenital heart disease. The PLSVC usually drains into the right atrium via the coronary sinus and may lead to a dilatation of the latter in the prenatal period.
