Anatomical variations of gonadal Veins in Sri Lankan cadavers: A case series

Objective: Gonadal veins carry venous blood from gonads. The right gonadal vein (RGV) drains into inferior vena cava (IVC) directly while left gonadal vein drains into the left renal vein (LRV). However, numerous anatomical variations of gonadal veins which accounts for pathological conditions such as varicocele and pelvic congestion syndrome have been reported. In this study we report such variations observed during a routine cadaver dissection for the first-year dental undergraduates.
Methods and material: Dissection was carried out in ten cadavers by the investigators following observation of the variations.
Results: Three cadavers out of ten were observed to have variations of the gonadal veins in relation to the number and site of drainage. There were right gonadal veins draining to right renal vein as well as double gonadal veins were observed.
Conclusion: A clear understanding of these variations is important for clinicians and radiologists in recognizing and avoiding complications in interventional procedures in the retroperitoneal region. Therefore, we recommend carrying out further studies using a larger sample of Sri Lankan population.