Anatomical case

Unusual pulmonary vein variations: A new case report and its clinical significance

Authors

  • Ferdinando Paternostroverified— Università degli Studi di Firenze
  • Immacolata Belvisoverified— UniCamillus — Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences
  • Branca JJV
  • Fagni N
  • Guarnieri G
  • Morelli A
  • Pacini A
Version 1

Abstract

Anatomical variations in pulmonary circulation, especially in the number and drainage patterns of pulmonary veins, have significant clinical implications. The typical anatomy includes four pulmonary veins, which transport oxygenated blood to the left atrium through distinct ostia. However, variations have been reported in up to 36% of cases, a discovery facilitated by advances in imaging and cadaveric dissection. This study presents the anatomical findings of supernumerary pulmonary veins observed during routine thoracic dissection of a 75-year-old female cadaver. The implications of such variations are critical in cardiothoracic and pulmonary surgery, where unrecognized anatomical differences may lead to complications, including intraoperative bleeding and incomplete resections. Knowledge of these variations is also pivotal to radiological interpretation, as misinterpretation can lead to diagnostic errors. This study emphasizes the need for clinicians to be aware of pulmonary venous variability to enhance surgical planning, reduce procedural risks, and improve patient outcomes.

Original publication

This entry carries the summary of the work. The full text, with methods, results and figures, is at the publisher.

Branca JJV, Fagni N, Guarnieri G, Morelli A, Pacini A, Paternostro F, Belviso I. Unusual pulmonary vein variations: A new case report and its clinical significance. Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology 2026;130(1):13–17. doi:10.36253/ijae-17036

Anatomical classification

Systems:
Cardiovascular system

Content provenance

Translation

Italian translation of «Unusual pulmonary vein variations: A new case report and its clinical significance» by Branca JJV, Fagni N, Guarnieri G, Morelli A, Pacini A, Paternostro F, Belviso I. Source: https://doi.org/10.36253/ijae-17036 Original work distributed under the CC BY 4.0 licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.it). Translation by Redazione AIVA. Changes from the original: Sintesi del lavoro originale: abstract riprodotto integralmente come consentito dalla licenza CC BY 4.0, con traduzione italiana a fronte, citazione completa e rimando al testo integrale presso l’editore. Il testo completo non è riprodotto. This publication is not approved or endorsed by the authors of the original work.

Licence

This content is distributed under the licence CC BY 4.0. Licences and attribution