title: Left sided inferior vena cava duplication and venous thromboembolism: case report and review of literature.
abstract: The etiology of venous thromboembolism in young patients is frequently associated with hereditary coagulation abnormalities, immunologic diseases, and neoplasia. The advent of radiological advances, namely Computed Tomography (CT) scans and venography has identified vena cava malformations as a new etiologic factor worthy of consideration. In this case report, we describe the unusual occurrence of venous thromboembolism in association with a duplicated inferior vena cava. Duplications of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are seen with an incidence of 0.2% to 3.0% in the general population. Embryogenesis of the IVC is a complex process involving the intricate formation and regression of numerous anastomoses, potentially leading to various anomalies. We present a 23-year-old Caucasian woman with IVC duplication who developed a deep venous thrombosis and multiple pulmonary emboli. Anomaly of the IVC is a rare example of a congenital condition that predisposes to thromboembolism, presumably by favoring venous stasis. This diagnosis should be considered in patients under the age of 30 with spontaneous occurrence of blood clots.
authors.affiliation: Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University and Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA. cmilani@lifespan.org
authors.forename: Cannon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Constantinou
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berz
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Butera
authors.forename: Gerald A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Colvin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult