Superior cavoatrial junction
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Bell D, Hacking C, et al. Superior cavoatrial junction. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 08 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-29795
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rID:
29795
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures
Revisions:
7 times, by
4 contributors -
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Synonyms:
- Superior cavoatrial junction
- Superior cavo-atrial junction
- Cavo-atrial junction (CAJ)
- Superior cavoatrial junction (SCAJ)
- Cavoatrial junction
The superior cavoatrial junction (SCAJ), generally referred to as simply the cavoatrial junction (CAJ), is the junction of the right lateral border of the superior vena cava (SVC) and the superior border of the right atrium.
It is an important landmark to recognize because it marks an optimum site for central venous catheter tip placement.
Terminology
There is also an inferior cavoatrial junction at the junction between the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the right atrium. However this term is less commonly used/seen and generally cavoatrial junction, without qualification, is understood to mean the superior one.
Radiographic appearance
Plain radiograph
There are a variety of methods to estimate the position of the cavoatrial junction on chest radiographs:
- two vertebral body levels below the level of the carina 2
- intersection of bronchus intermedius with the right heart border or inflection of the right heart border with the SVC contour 3
- note: superior right heart border may not always be formed by the right atrium and may be formed by the right atrial appendage or left atrium 4
- within one vertebral space either side of T5/6 4
References
- 1. Venugopal AN, Koshy RC, Koshy SM. Role of chest X-ray in citing central venous catheter tip: A few case reports with a brief review of the literature. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2013;29 (3): 397-400. doi:10.4103/0970-9185.117114 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 2. Baskin KM, Jimenez RM, Cahill AM et-al. Cavoatrial junction and central venous anatomy: implications for central venous access tip position. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2008;19 (3): 359-65. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2007.09.005 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Ridge CA, Litmanovich D, Molinari F et-al. Radiographic evaluation of central venous catheter position: anatomic correlation using gated coronary computed tomographic angiography. J Thorac Imaging. 2013;28 (2): 129-33. doi:10.1097/RTI.0b013e31825d2db9 - Pubmed citation
- 4. Totally Implantable Venous Access Devices. Springer. ISBN:8847023726. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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