title: You see what you know … gas bubbles in the inferior vena cava, an unusual presentation of necrotizing soft tissue infection.
abstract: Gas detected within the systemic circulation as an unexpected finding is a very rare phenomenon. A case of multiple bubbles within the inferior vena cava detected incidentally during a sonogram requested to assess for portal vein thrombosis is presented. These were eventually determined to be sequelae of a fatal, clinically silent necrotizing soft tissue infection. The differential diagnosis for gas within the inferior vena cava is reviewed, and teaching points that may help future patients are presented.
authors.affiliation: Abdominal Imaging Section, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Lou
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rudolf
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Sommers
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases