Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava in Hematological Malignancy Requiring Central Venous Catheter Insertion for Intensive Chemotherapy

Abstract

Persistent left superior vena cava is a congenital vascular anomaly, which is possibly arrhythmogenic and thrombogenic, rarely complicated with coronary sinus atresia. We treated a 42-year-old male with Hodgkin's lymphoma requiring central venous catheter placement for intensive chemotherapy. Persistent left superior vena cava was revealed after the insertion of the central venous catheter by the radiological finding of the catheter tip cannulated into the vena cava cavity. The relationship between coronary sinus atresia and persistent left superior vena cava induced by central venous catheterization remains unclear; however, the hematologist should pay attention to the malpositioning of the central venous catheter.

Keywords

• Persistent left superior vena cava
• Coronary sinus atresia
• Central venous catheter
• Chemotherapy
• Hematological malignancy