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Ascending lumbar communicant vein

Dr Behrang Amini et al.

The ascending lumbar communicant vein is a communication between the left ascending lumbar vein and the left renal vein. Because of its retroperitoneal location, when dilated, it may be mistaken for a lymph node on non-contrast studies with thick collimation.

The image shows the left renal vein in yellow, the ascending lumbar communicant vein in red, and the lumbar vein in blue.