Department of Radiology, Division of General Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, 123 Ta-Pei Rd., Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review the imaging features of congenital variants of and pathologic conditions affecting the brachiocephalic vein. CONCLUSION: CT and MRI are excellent for visualizing developmental anomalies and mediastinal tumors that involve the brachiocephalic vein. Although they affect this vein less commonly than do developmental anomalies and tumors, trauma, aneurysm formation, stenosis related to dialysis or other conditions, and various complications related to central venous catheters do occur, and familiarity with the imaging findings is helpful for diagnosis.