Azygos Lobe of Right Lung (Lobus Azygos Pulmonisdextri) - A Case Report

Introduction: An azygos lobe is a rare anomaly of the lung (1). Its incidence ranges between 0.2 % and 1.2 % of the population (2). Anatomical knowledge of morphological variations of lobes and fissures are essential for Cardiothoracic surgeons in identifying bronchopulmonary segments and for performing lobectomies and surgical resection of individual segments and for Radiologists interpreting X � rays, CT& MRI scans (3). Materials and Methods: The study material comprised of 22 human cadavers, in the Department of Anatomy, Osmania medical college, Koti, Hyderabad over a period of two years. During routine dissection of thorax for undergraduate MBBS 1st Year students, a rare case of Azygos lobe in the apex of right lung was noticed in an elderly male cadaver. Left lung was normal. Results: In the present study, a case of Azygos lobe of right lung was found. Out of 44 specimens, 1 specimen showed an azygos lobe in the right lung in apical region. The findings being laterally displaced azygos vein which created a deep pleural fissure into the apical segment of the right upper lobe due to invagination of the azygos vein and pleura, azygos vein crossing from left to right side in posterior mediastinum, in situ lobe was placed postero-medially. Left lung was normal. Conclusion: Clinically, the knowledge of azygos lobe anatomy is essential to know the prevalence, morphology (4), and location of the azygos lobe for diagnostic and surgical procedures of the lungs related to mediastinal pathologies, especially to minimize intraoperative vascular injuries, shock, possible thoracotomy, and sometimes the possibility of pulmonary torsion.