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Topic

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Superior vein of left lung

The superior segmental vein of the left lung (V6) drains the superior segment (S6) of the left lower lobe. It courses posterolaterally alongside the segmental bronchus (B6) and artery (A6), then converges at the hilum to join the left inferior pulmonary vein (LIPV)—most often its posterior/superior tributary—before entering the left atrium. Variants include a common trunk with basilar veins (V7–V10), an early confluence directly into the LIPV, or, rarely, a separate atrial ostium.

Synonyms

  • Left lower lobe superior segmental vein

  • V6 (segment 6 vein)

  • Superior vein of left lower lobe

Function

  • Returns oxygenated blood from S6 to the LIPV → left atrium

  • Serves as a key venous landmark in anatomic segmentectomy and lobectomy

  • Helps define venous planes in thoracic surgery and interventional planning

Tributaries

  • Subsegmental venules from S6a, S6b, S6c (when identified), coalescing into V6 before joining the LIPV

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • V6 lumen shows a flow void (black); perihilar fat provides contrast; wall is thin and hypointense.

T2-weighted images (normal):

  • Appears as a linear flow void against higher-signal lung/mediastinal tissues; intraluminal thrombus may show increased signal depending on age.

T2 TRUFISP (cardiac/respiratory-gated):

  • V6 visualized as a bright, continuous venous channel coursing to the LIPV, with cine-like depiction of patency and convergence with basilar tributaries.

STIR:

  • Fat suppression improves conspicuity against hilar/mediastinal fat; perivascular edema or inflammation appears hyperintense.

T1 Post-contrast (gadolinium):

  • Homogeneous enhancement of V6 and LIPV; filling defects indicate thrombus/stenosis; clarifies the exact V6–LIPV confluence.

MRI Non-Contrast Cardiac-Gated 3D (whole-heart):

  • ECG-navigated 3D datasets delineate V6 → LIPV and neighboring venous trunks; useful for pre-operative venous mapping when contrast is contraindicated.

CT Appearance

CT Coronary Angiography (CCTA) / CT Pulmonary Venography:

  • Contrast opacifies V6, its subsegmental feeders, and the V6–LIPV junction; multiplanar/3D reconstructions define ostial relationships, common trunks, and variants.

  • Detects stenosis, thrombus, extrinsic compression, or anomalous drainage; critical for segmentectomy planning and precise venous preservation.

CT image

Superior vein of left lung

MRI image

Superior vein of left lung mri image