system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
In a patient with a tumor in superior mediastinum compressing the superior vena cava, all of the following veins would serve as alternate pathways for the blood to return to the right atrium, except-
assistant
The correct answer is  Whenever there is an obstruction in superior or inferior vena cava, collateral circulation opens up to connect inferior vena cava and superior vena cava. This helps in circulation being maintained by draining into the right atrium. The veins that can form collaterals include
-        Superior epigastric
-        Internal thoracic
-        Lateral thoracic
-        Thoracoepigastric
-        Posterior intercostal
-        Lumbovertebral
-        Superficial epigastric
-        Superficial circumflex iliac
-        Deep circumflex iliac
-        Inferior epigastric
-        External pudendal
-        Azygous
-        Hemiazygous
-        Ascending lumbar