Deep venous thrombosis after varicocele surgery as a clinical manifestation of inferior vena cava agenisis

Introduction: About 2% of the general population show anomalies of the infe rior vena cava. These malformations usually have no clinical significance a nd are diagnosed incidentally. Case Report: We report on a case of deep vein thrombosis after surgical man agement of right-sides varicocele following ligation of a left-sided varico cele 3 years ago. Diagnostic evaluation of the thrombosis revealed an absen t lower part of the inferior vena cava as well as blind ending iliac veins. In retrospect, the bilateral varicoceles have to be interpreted as collate rals compensating for a congenitally absent inferior vena cava. Conclusions: In the rare case of right-sided or bilateral varicoceles (Grad e II-III) we therefore recommend use of duplex-ultrasonography to exclude s uch underlying vascular malformations.