Abstract
Background:
Diagnostic imaging is crucial in the evaluation of thoracic congenital anomalies. Although clinical assessment may provide insight into the possible diagnosis, imaging is usually necessary to confirm the diagnosis, treatment planning and postoperative evaluation.
Aim:
To assess the role of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in evaluating and calculating prevalence of pulmonary venous abnormalities, and be familiar with the imaging characteristics of these abnormalities.
Patients and methods:
Ninety patients were enrolled in this retrospective study (33.3% males and 66.7% females) their age ranged from 10 days to 60 years (mean age: 28.7±19.6 years), who underwent MDCT angiography using 128-slice MDCT scanner (ingenuity Philips health care, best, Netherlands) and have been diagnosed of pulmonary venous variants or anomalies.
Results:
Pulmonary venous anomalies were detected in 12.2 % of the studied group while the pulmonary variants were 20%. The most common pulmonary venous congenital anomalies were partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) (45.5%) then pulmonary venous varix (27.3 %), followed by total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) representing (18.2%) then the meandering pulmonary vein representing (9%) of detected anomalies. While the most common pulmonary venous variant is conjoined pulmonary vein representing 10 % followed by supernumerary right pulmonary vein representing 5.6 % then pulmonary vein open with common ostium representing 4.4% of the studied group.

Conclusion:
(MDCT) is considered the modality of choice for accurate delineation of pulmonary venous normal and variant anatomy as well as anomalies and aids planning of interventional procedures especially radiofrequency ablation of arrhythmiogenic foci.