AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY, cilt.25, sa.9, ss.1597-1598, 2004 (SCI-Expanded)
An ascending lumbar vein passing through a foramen on the right pedicle of the third lumbar vertebra unilaterally, which was diagnosed incidentally during virtual CT colonoscopy of a patient with a rectal tumor, is described. Recognition of this anatomic variation is important to avoid diagnostic misinterpretations and transpedicular interventions such as percutaneous vertebroplasty or surgical instrumentation that may result in excessive hemorrhage and inadvertent leak of cement when it is present.