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Updated: May 21, 2026
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Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Screening for Proximal Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis
Published on: February 10, 2023
An extraordinary cause for deep venous thrombosis
W Droog1, A J van Beek, R Kooijman
1Department of Surgery, Ruwaard van Putten Ziekenhuis, Spijkenisse, The Netherlands. WDroog@hotmail.com
BMJ Case Reports
|June 21, 2012
Summary
Congenital absence of the infrarenal inferior vena cava can cause deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in young adults. CT scans are recommended for diagnosing idiopathic DVT in these patients, as standard ultrasound may miss this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Radiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Congenital abnormalities of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are rare but significant risk factors for venous thromboembolism.
- Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in young individuals often presents diagnostic challenges, necessitating thorough etiological investigation.
Observation:
- A case is presented of an 18-year-old male with left leg deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
- The patient was diagnosed with congenital absence of the infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC).
Findings:
- Congenital IVC absence, though often asymptomatic, was the underlying cause of DVT in this young patient.
- Compression B-mode ultrasonography can be insufficient for diagnosing IVC anomalies contributing to DVT.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis of congenital IVC absence is crucial for managing and preventing recurrent DVT.
- Computed tomography (CT) imaging should be considered for young patients presenting with idiopathic DVT to rule out underlying IVC abnormalities.
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