CONGENITAL AND ACQUIRED ANOMALIES OF THE INFERIOR VENA-CAVA - DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS BY DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY (DSA) AND COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY (CT)

Segmental aplasias of the inferior vena cava, thrombosis of the vena cava, tumour infiltration (e.g. renal neoplasms via the renal vein) and external compression (e.g. large hepatic metastases) may produce similar radiomorphologic changes in chest x-ray, DSA and CT. These radiomorphological changes are described by case reports. DSA clearly demonstrates the course of the vessels and the collaterals involved. CT may elucidate the paracaval vascular changes. It is only a synopsis of cavography (DSA) and CT with reference to embryogenesis that will lead to a reliable diagnosis and enable a definite decision on therapy and prognosis.