Paracaval lipoma
Dr Praveen Jha and Dr Frank Gaillard et al.
A paracaval lipoma can be a frequent finding on CT and can seen in up to 0.5% of examinations 1. It occurs at the medial aspect of the intrahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and represents pericaval fat appearing to invaginate into the IVC. This is thought to be due to volume averaging through inwards and upwards in-drawing of the posteromedial wall of the IVC as a result of negative pressure created within the thorax on inspiration 2.
Associations
There may be an association with cirrhosis 1.
Differential diagnoses
- bland thrombus
- tumour thrombus
- tumours of the IVC : e.g. leiomyosarcoma 3
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