ABSENCE OF SUPRARENAL SEGMENT OF INFERIOR VENA-CAVA WITH CAVERNOUS TRANSFORMATION

A 13-year-old boy with congenital absence of the inferior vena cava ab ove the renal hilum and azygos continuation is presented. Ultrasound a nd radiological features of focal dilatation of one of the venous coll aterals suggested an intra-abdominal mass, causing a diagnostic dilemm a. An inferior vena cavogram is the definitive investigation to diagno se this anomaly. Awareness of the condition is important, as injury to the lesion can cause severe haemorrhage and accidental ligation of th e azygos vein may be fatal.