Three-dimensional spiral CT venography for the pre-operative assessment of varicose patients.

Background: The purpose of pre-operative spiral CT venography or veno-CT (VCT) is to provide a precise 3D anatomic depiction of the venous network, to be used as a guideline by the surgeon.

Methods: A multislice and multidetector spiral CT acquisition of the lower limb with diluted contrast injection produces about 400 slices in 30 s. Dedicated volume-rendering software compute interactive 3D images of the venous system.

The origin of the azygos venous system, as deduced from an anatomical and radiological study employing a corrosion technique.

The aim of this study is not only to describe the origin of the human azygos venous system by performing a 3-D reconstruction of a CT scan but also to evaluate the value of the techniques employed in investigating the topographical anatomy of a venous system in the body. Following perfusion with saline to wash away the blood, we injected an ALTUFIX/MINIUM mixture into the azygos vein of a cadaver. The head and trunk were subsequently corroded with hydrochloric acid (HCl).

[The lumbar vein at L2 and the reno-azygo-lumbar arch: anatomic and radiologic studies].

The lumbar vein at L2 was described by C. Gillot and B. Singer (1974).