Pictorial review of congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava and its tributaries

The anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) represent a broad group of entities that are not uncommon, mostly being asymptomatic. Their development has its starting point in embryogenesis, representing a complex sequence of processes that occur during the fourth to eighth week of gestation. This process involves complex anastomoses and regressions of embryonic veins. The IVC is the main venous return structure for the extremities and abdominal organs. Proper identification of the IVC is often crucial, as it has direct clinical and pathological implications. Additionally, some anomalies will require a different approach in the planning of vascular interventions, while recognizing others will be useful to differentiate them from pathological conditions. With current multislice tomography, high-resolution spatial images can be acquired, allowing for high-quality reconstructions and highly detailed representations of the anatomy. There is no definitive classification for IVC anomalies. There are numerous possibilities, including agenesis, duplication, left-sided location, interruption of the intrahepatic portion, and Abernethy malformation. There are also anomalies of the tributary veins. In this article, we will describe the different entities, their embryological development, and their correlation with diagrams and tomographic images.