ABSTRACT
The shadow of the inferior vena cava can usually be seen on lateral and some frontal radiographs, due to its contact with air-filled lung. The supra-diaphragmatic part of the IVC may also be enlarged due to congenital heart disease, or with right sided decompensation. Occasionally the IVC may be double, and in such cases the left IVC typically crosses to join the right at renal vein level. Its recognition is of importance radiologically when staging abdominal or testicular tumours, etc. as a triple row of prespinal round nodules may all be vascular. Real-time ultra-sound may show a thickened IVC wall, stenosis with irregularity, frank thrombus formation, and/or proximal dilatation. An isotope colloid scan may demonstrate a large defect in the area of the hepatic veins.
