Absent infrarenal inferior vena cava

Area of Science:

• Vascular anatomy
• Radiology
• Congenital anomalies

Background:

• The infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC) is a major vein that returns deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.
• Congenital absence of the infrarenal IVC is an uncommon vascular anomaly.
• Computed tomography (CT) is a key imaging modality for diagnosing vascular abnormalities.

Observation:

• A young patient presented with symptoms of abdominal and back pain.
• Imaging revealed an absence of the infrarenal segment of the inferior vena cava.
• This finding was unexpected and not the primary reason for the initial imaging.

Findings:

• The patient was diagnosed with congenital absence of the infrarenal inferior vena cava.
• This anatomical variation can be asymptomatic or present with diverse clinical manifestations.
• Abdominal and back pain can be a presenting symptom in individuals with this condition.

Implications:

• Understanding this anomaly is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management of related symptoms.
• Awareness of this condition is important for clinicians interpreting abdominal imaging.
• Further research may elucidate the specific mechanisms linking infrarenal IVC absence to pain syndromes.