• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.448-455
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• 2023

The azygos vein can be formed as a single root, two roots, and three roots, namely lateral, intermediate and the medial roots respectively. The hemiazygos vein and the accessory hemiazygos vein are the tributaries of azygos vein rather than its left side equivalents. Its variations, especially in young persons without any relevant risk factors, may result in thromboembolic illness. This study aimed to describe the morphological and morphometric variations of azygos system of veins. The present study was conducted on thirty formalin fixed adult human cadavers by dissecting azygos vein from formation to termination and variations were noted. The azygos vein was formed by a single root in 56.7%, by two roots: the lateral root and intermediate root in 36.7% cases and by the lateral root and medial root in 6.6%. The vertebral level of termination of azygos vein was seen at the level of T4 vertebrae in 70% cases, at the level of T3 vertebrae in 20% of cases and at the level of T5 vertebrae in 10% cases. The course of azygos vein was varying in 13.3%. These morphological variations can be useful while performing mediastinal surgery, mediastinoscopy, surgery of the deformations of the vertebral column, neurovascular surgeries of the retroperitoneal organs, disc herniation and fracture of thoracic vertebrae.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.53-55
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• 2023

Azygos vein injuries are rare consequences of blunt trauma. When there is high drainage output from a right-sided intercostal catheter, an azygos injury must be considered in the differential diagnosis. We report the case of a 38-year-old male patient involved in a fall from a height during a motorcycle accident. Computed tomography demonstrated a large right-sided hemothorax and left-sided pneumothorax. The patient was transferred to the operating theatre and underwent a clamshell thoracotomy. A laceration in the azygos vein at the confluence of the arch of the azygos and the right superior intercostal vein was identified. Bleeding was controlled at the trifurcation. The patient survived and was discharged home on postoperative day 15.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.140-142
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• 2023

The azygos vein sometimes merges abnormally across the right upper lobe of the lung and it hangs at the lower edge of a membranous septum, called the meso-azygos. The septum invaginates the lobe and makes a fissure. The smaller medial part of the right upper lobe is called an azygos lobe. A 16-year-old male patient was diagnosed with right-sided pneumothorax, and a closed thoracostomy was done in the emergency room. During elective wedge resection including the bulla, the meso-azygos, abnormal azygos vein, and azygos lobe were detected. We reviewed the computed tomography images and found that the azygos lobe had re-expanded laterally, not medially, to the meso-azygos after the closed thoracostomy in the emergency room. The patient had been diagnosed with left-sided pneumothorax a year ago, and no one noticed the azygos lobe at that time. We report the intraoperative findings and comparative images of a migratory azygos lobe.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.3
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• pp.328-331
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• 2012

A Septic embolism is a type of embolism infected with bacteria containing pus. These may become dangerous if dislodged from their original location. Embolisms of this type in the azygos vein are potentially fatal. The diagnosis of septic azygos vein embolism is difficult, so rapid diagnosis and treatment is important to avoid complications. Generally, treatment is enough for appropriate antibiotic therapy without anticoagulant therapy. We report a case of staphylococcal septic embolism in the azygos vein, which was discovered in a 51-year-old man exhibiting chest pain, dyspnea and fever. The patient was treated with antibiotic therapy alone without the use of anticoagulants.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.304-306
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• 2011

An azygos vein aneurysm is a very rare cause of a posterior mediastinal mass. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, no treatment is usually required. However, the aneurysm can thrombose, and this may lead pulmonary thromboembolism, or the aneurysm may rupture. In these instances, the excision of the mass is recommended. Video-assisted thoracic surgery techniques have considerably improved. If it is necessary to remove the aneurysm, video-assisted thoracic surgery may be a good option for surgical treatment. We report a case of an aneurysm of the azygos arch that was successfully resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the azygos vein to aorta diameter ratio (AV/AO ratio) in healthy dogs and dogs with diseases that may cause azygos vein dilation. The normal groups included eleven healthy beagle dogs and eleven small breed dogs. The abnormal group included 43 dogs that had diseases with high right atrial pressure (RA group), obstruction of cranial or caudal vena cava (CVC group) and porto-azygos shunt group (PSS group). The diameter of AV and AO were measured at three sites on thoracic CT images; the level of the cranial endplate of 12^th thoracic vertebra (TV level), the tracheal bifurcation (TB level) and the insertion to the cranial vena cava (CrVC level). The AV/AO ratio at the CrVC level had significantly higher values than those at the TV and TB levels in the normal groups. The AV/AO ratios of TV and TB levels in the CVC group and the values at all measurement sites of the PSS group were significantly higher than the normal groups. AV/AO ratio will be a useful factor for the evaluation of various clinical conditions that change the AV diameter with respect independent to the body weight in dogs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1243-1246
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• 1998

Tracheobronchial injuries are uncommon. Except for the cervical region, most tracheobronchial injuries are due to blunt chest trauma in Korea. The depth of the tracheobronchial trees renders these structures relatively safe from stab wound. We experienced a case of left main bronchial laceration with azygos vein tear following stab wound in the back of right chest firstly in Korea. The patient was a 24 years old male. A routine chest radiography showed a knife in chest at emergency room. We didn't remove the knife at emergency room. This patient was carried to operation room in 30 minutes after arrival of our hospital without computed tomography and bronchoscopy. The operation was performed through standard right posterolateral thoracotomy and then the knife was removed. The left main bronchus and azyos vein were lacerated obliquely. The penetrated azygos vein was ligated and the laceration of the left main bronchus was repaired. Postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.95-108
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• 2024

The azygos venous system is a crucial conduit of the posterior thorax and potentially vital collateral pathway. However, it is often overlooked clinically and radiologically. This pictorial essay reviews the normal azygos venous anatomy and CT findings of congenital variations and structural changes associated with acquired pathologies.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.114-118
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• 2018

A 3-month-old intact male Lakeland terrier was presented with recurring regurgitation after removing cervical esophageal foreign body by endoscopy. Blood and urine analysis, radiography, ultrasonography, fluoroscopic esophagography, computed tomographic angiography (CTA) were performed. In radiography and fluoroscopic esophagography, vascular ring anomaly was considered as the primary cause of megaesophagus, and CTA with gas-inflation of the esophagus was performed. Compressed esophagus, persistent right aortic arch (PRAA), aberrant left subclavian artery (LSA), and a venous structure which was confirmed in surgery to be incomplete type persistent left cranial vena cava (PLCVC) connected with the left side azygos vein were observed. Left deviation of the trachea was also revealed in CT, which implies the compression by left ligamentum arteriosum. Therefore, type 3 PRAA with left ligamentum arteriosum and aberrant LSA, was considered as a prior differential diagnosis. Surgical repair was performed and the clinical signs improved. This report describes CTA characteristics of combination of PRAA with aberrant LSA, incomplete PLCVC and Lt. azygos vein in a dog. Although not every vascular anomaly does induce clinical sign, some types can complicate the surgical procedure, and cause clinical signs. Therefore, thorough evaluation of vascular anomalies in the thorax is important, and CTA is a useful method in identifying multiple vascular anomalies in dogs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.902-905
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• 2006

We report a case in which routine chest roentgenograms of an 840 g infant led to the belief that the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was appropriately positioned within the superior vena cava when, in actuality, it was within the azygous arch. Although many cases of pleural effusions have been reported to be caused by a central venous catheter, a right-sided hydrothorax caused by azygous vein rupture from the use of a PICC is an extremely rare complication. Sudden changes in the condition of a preterm infant with PICC should raise the suspicion of a catheter-related problem.