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Intimal angiosarcoma is a most unexpected cause of aortic occlusion. We present the case of a 74-year-old woman with intimal angiosarcoma that manifested with the triad of congestive heart failure, acute renal failure, and abdominal angina. A review of the literature and discussion of postoperative outcomes follows.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement is recommended for acute proximal deep venous thrombosis if anticoagulation is contraindicated. A 52-year-old man presented with weakness, dyspnea, syncope, and renal failure 8 months after IVC filter placement. Imaging revealed migration of the IVC filter to the right ventricle. Endovascular retrieval was not feasible, thus surgical extraction and tricuspid valve repair was performed. IVC filter migration to the heart is a rare, but a potentially life-threatening complication. Retrieval can be accomplished using endovascular or open surgical technique.

The estimate of the accuracy of PET-CT scan is significantly influenced by referral bias, and a strong reliance is placed on its results. Furthermore, patients with a positive PET-CT scan are more likely to undergo tissue sampling as the SUV increases. Given the relatively low sensitivity of the PET-CT scan in detecting disease and its poor performance in the mediastinum, the PET-CT scan may have too high an impact on the decision to undergo further invasive diagnostic procedures. Patients should not be deferred from tissue sampling based solely on a negative PET-CT scan.

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