Congenital absence of the inferior vena cava: a rare risk factor for idiopathic deep-vein thrombosis.
Congenital absence of the inferior vena cava (AIVC) is a rare vascular defect, commonly reported as a fortuitous finding. The presence of AIVC in patients with DVT is underestimated because AIVC cannot be detected by compression B-mode ultrasonography. By use of computed tomography, we diagnosed four cases of AIVC in young patients with idiopathic DVT over a 5 year period. Based on the occurrence of DVT in patients below 30 years in our area during the same period, we estimate that AIVC is present in about 5% of cases of DVT in young patients. Computed tomography or angiography should be used for the diagnosis of idiopathic DVT in young patients.
M
M
Ruggeri
A
A
Tosetto
G
G
Castaman
F
F
Rodeghiero
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities*