title: Congenital absence of inferior vena cava as a rare cause of pulmonary thromboembolism.
abstract: Interruption of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with azygos continuation is an uncommon vascular anomaly that results from aberrant development during embryogenesis. We report a rare case of this anomaly, presenting with massive pulmonary embolism. Subsequent evaluation with abdominal CT scan revealed the congenital absence of retrohepatic IVC. The patient was successfully treated with anticoagulation. When deep venous thrombosis (DVT) develops in patients with no apparent risk factors, the presence of congenital IVC anomalies should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, 1232 Baeksuk-dong, Ilsan, Koyang, Gyeonggido 411-719, Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seok Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Joon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Sun Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Gyu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yong Kuk
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Dong Hyung
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities*