Sonographic detection and the clinical significance of the left retroaortal renal vein

A retro-aortal left renal vein can be expected in 12.2% of the patients, as anatomical examinations show; in 8,9% of the cases, this presents as a circum -aortal venous ring, whereas in 3.3% it occurs as an isolated V. renalis retroaortalis sin. The sonographic image of this deviation from the standard and its clinical relevance are demonstrated.