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1: Lancet. 2001 Feb 10;357(9254):441.
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Congenital absence of the inferior vena cava: a rare risk factor for idiopathic deep-vein thrombosis.

Ruggeri M, Tosetto A, Castaman G, Rodeghiero F.

Congenital absence of the inferior vena cava (AIVC) is a rare vascular defect, commonly reported as a fortuitous finding. The presence of AIVC in patients with DVT is underestimated because AIVC cannot be detected by compression B-mode ultrasonography. By use of computed tomography, we diagnosed four cases of AIVC in young patients with idiopathic DVT over a 5 year period. Based on the occurrence of DVT in patients below 30 years in our area during the same period, we estimate that AIVC is present in about 5% of cases of DVT in young patients. Computed tomography or angiography should be used for the diagnosis of idiopathic DVT in young patients.

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PMID: 11273066 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]