Infrahepatic Interruption of the Inferior Vena Cava with Azygos Continuation: A Potential Mimicker of Aortic Pathology

Bilateral absence of the superior vena cava presenting with superior vena cava syndrome: A case report

“…Systemic venous anomalies occur in <2% of the general population . Understanding the development of the venous system is not only worthwhile from a scientific perspective, but also allows for more accurate and thorough diagnosis using ultrasound.…”

Dilated azygos arch mimicking an aortic arch anomaly during thoracic surgery

“…The dilated azygos arch is a potential mimicker of aortic pathologies (dissection, aneurysm or rupture) [2] not only during thoracotomy, when the enlarged AV can mimic in caliber and course a right aortic arch, but also during imaging studies in more advanced ages in life. This anomaly may be isolated or associated with other anomalies, including abnormal cardiac situs and left-isomerism, bilateral SVC, atrial and ventricular septal defects, pulmonary stenosis, anomalous pulmonary venous return, pulmonary anomalies, like azygos/hemiazygos accessory lobe [3], or imperforate anus [6].…”

“…Asymptomatic pleural bounding azygos (hemiazygos) pulmonary lobe, as a discriminant for azygos continuation, might be not identifiable in newborns on anteroposterior or lateral X-ray due to normal neonatal thymus presence, like not the azygos continuation itself [16]. Color Doppler echocardiography is the most suitable non-invasive technique in detecting IVC interruption with azygos continuation [2,14], because the more sensitive CT is not recommended for routine vein or pulmonary screening exam. Furthermore, since the prenatal diagnosis of type III EA is quite difficult and based on indirect aspecific signs (polyhydramnios, altered gastric dimension), it should be examined whether the AV anomalies can represent an additional soft marker for gastrointestinal malformations.…”

Deep Venous Thrombosis Caused by Congenital Malformation of the Inferior Vena Cava and Heterozygous Factor V Leiden Presenting as Venous Claudication

“…17 An enlarged azygos arch can readily be mistaken for a mediastinal mass or aortic dissection. 15 Appropriate imaging studies are computed tomographic (CT) scan or magnetic resonance (MR) tomography. 16,18,19 Phlebography remains the most accurate diagnostic method but has the disadvantage of being invasive and is not always feasible, especially in the presence of a more distal thrombosis.…”