What is a retroaortic left renal vein?

Anatomical Variant: In most people the left renal vein passes in front of the aorta. A retro aortic renal vein is an anatomical variation in which the left renal vein passes behind the aorta.

Anatomic issue: The left renal vein normally runs over or anterior to the aorta. In some patients the left renal vein congenitally courses behind the aorta. This is mainly an anatomical issue and does not mean much for the patients. It means a lot to the surgeon doing open aneurysm repair of the aorta.

Common variant: The left renal vein drains the left kidney into the inferior vena cava (ivc). To get there, it has to go around the aorta. Most often, this path is in front of the aorta. Less commonly, it passes behind (retro aortic). This is of no significance unless surgery in that area is necessary, in which case it's helpful for the surgeon to know ahead of time.

Normal: Congenital variant where left renal vein passes behind instead of in front of the aorta. Usually not significant.

Anatomical variant.: The usual left renal vein passes from the left kidney in front of the aorta to the inferior vena cava. A retroaortic left renal vein passes behind the aorta from the left kidney to the IVC.

Vein: The left kidney vein usually runs anterior to aorta. Yours runs behind. This can have implications for renal vein compression