A Case Study of Duplicated Inferior Vena Cava: An Incidental Finding in an Abdominal Vascular Evaluation

Abstract

Often during routine studies, vascular technologists are confronted with unusual findings. This case presentation describes finding a duplicated inferior vena cava (IVC) in a 43-year-old man with fatigue, dizziness, and a physical finding of dilated iliac veins. When insonating the mid aorta in transverse view, we noted that the aorta had what appeared to be two IVCs (one IVC on each side of the aorta). As a result of the finding, further assessment took place. The proximal IVC was visualized with color Doppler in longitudinal view and noted to be anterior to the aorta. Further evaluation took place and a second vein appearing to be a duplicated IVC was discovered posterior to the aorta. Duplicated IVC is a rare congenital anomaly that results from persistence of right and left supracardinal veins in embryo. Duplicated IVC needs to be recognized in association with vena cava filter placement and renal anomalies.