Absent infrarenal inferior vena cava
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An absent infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC) can be congenital due to failure of development of the posterior cardinal and supracardinal veins, or acquired as result of intrauterine or perinatal inferior vena cava thrombosis.
Epidemiology
It is an extremely rare anomaly.
Clinical presentation
The patient may present with symptoms of lower-extremity venous insufficiency or idiopathic deep venous thrombosis, particularly in younger patients.
Radiographic features
The non invasive modality of choice are contrast enhanced CT or MRI, which is preferred over ultrasound. The best invasive imaging modality is venography, particularly done if performed for surgical planning.
General features include:
- infrarenal IVC with preservation of the suprarenal segment
- common iliac veins may be absent
- external and internal iliac veins drain into the ascending lumbar veins, which drain into the azygous-hemiazygous system
- +/- collateral
paraspinalparaspinal circulation
-<li>+/- collateral paraspinal circulation</li>- +<li>+/- collateral paraspinal circulation</li>