title: Absence of inferior vena cava as a rare cause of deep venous thrombosis complicated by liver and lung embolism.
abstract: Congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava such as absence or atresia are uncommon vascular defects and result from aberrant development during embryogenesis. We report a case of a young female patient affected by proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) complicated by liver and pulmonary embolism; subsequent extensive evaluation revealed the congenital absence of infrarenal inferior vena cava, with emboli probably occurring through collateral veins. Accordingly, in young patients with idiopathic DVT of the lower extremities and pelvic veins, the presence of inferior vena cava abnormalities should always be considered and investigated, together with classic coagulation factors, as a factor predisposing to thromboembolic complications.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Aloia
authors.forename: Pompilio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faggiano
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiorina
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vizzardi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bontempi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grazioli
authors.forename: Livio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dei Cas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*