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Updated: Sep 16, 2025

Multimodality Diagnosis of Mesenteric Ischemia
Published on: July 21, 2023
Mediastinal mass or vascular anomaly? Azygos arch dilatation diagnosed with CT venography
Soheil Mirzaei1, Zahra Motaghed2, Reza Naseri3
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Radiology, Shahid Sattari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Introduction:
The azygos vein arises below the diaphragm from the ascending lumbar and right subcostal veins, playing a critical role in venous drainage and being susceptible to anomalies.
Case Presentation:
A 40-year-old woman, admitted after trauma, had an incidental finding of an enlarged azygos arch on CT, confirmed by CT angiography and managed conservatively.
Discussion:
The embryologic development and complex imaging features of the azygos system may mimic mediastinal masses; advanced CT techniques enable accurate differentiation.
Conclusion:
Advanced imaging prevented unnecessary invasive procedures and underscored the importance of a timely, systematic diagnostic approach.
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