title: Deep vein thrombosis as a presenting symptom of congenital interruption of the inferior vena cava.
abstract: Infrahepatic interruption of the inferior vena cava is a congenital anomaly, resulting in venous drainage of the lower extremities by way of a compensatory enlarged vena azygos system. We report the case of a 37-year-old male who presented with symptoms of deep vein thrombosis of the entire right lower extremity. A right-sided mediastinal mass on the chest X-ray was mistaken for a haematological malignancy but proved later to represent an enlarged azygos vein. The case illustrates that in a case of deep vein thrombosis, especially in younger patients, interruption of the inferior vena cava should be considered. A right-sided paratracheal mass on the chest X-ray may give a clue in making the correct diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Timmers
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Falke
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rauwerda
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Huijgens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001401:Azygos Vein / Q000002:abnormalities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*