A rare case of right upper lung cancer with azygos lobe and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return

BACKGROUND: The azygos lobe (AL) combined with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is comparatively uncommon as well as in radical surgery for right lung cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: We herein present an extremely rare case of lung cancer coexisting with AL and asymptomatic PAPVR, which was diagnosed with preoperative contrast three-dimensional reconstruction and received radical surgery by thoracoscopy. During the surgery, we preserved azygos vein successfully and found a split type of PAPVR in right upper pulmonary vein. CONCLUSIONS: AL combined with PAPVR may cause confusion on the vascular separation and disconnection of the right pulmonary hilar. However, preoperative 3D reconstruction is more conducive to the correct performing of this type of surgery.