Pericaval fat collection that mimics thrombosis of the inferior vena cava: Demonstration with use of multi-directional reformation CT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the causes for localized fat collection that seemed to be within the subdiaphragmatic inferior vena cava (IVC) on axial computed tomographic (CT) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six consecutive patients with presumed intracaval fat collection at routine abdominal CT (n = 2) or thin-section CT of the lung (n = 4) were studied prospectively with helical CT. Three patients had chronic liver diseases. Multi-directional, two-dimensional, reformatted images were obtained from the helical CT data for identification of the relation between the IVC and fat collection. Six patients without intracaval fat collection were studied as control subjects. RESULTS: On axial CT scans, the fat collection had a round or oval shape (in four of six patients) and was located posteromedial to the IVC (in four of six patients). On coronal reformatted images, the fat collection was outside the IVC between the diaphragm and subdiaphragmatic IVC, which was contiguous to the fat around the subdiaphragmatic esophagus. In the fat collection group, the IVC angled toward the right and narrowed to half in diameter as it passed down to the diaphragm. In the control group, the IVC was straight, although the diameter decreased similarly. CONCLUSION A localized fat collection adjacent to the subdiaphragmatic IVC that mimics intracaval fat on axial CT scans is due to acute angulation of the IVC, which is probably a result of anatomic variation, chronic liver disease, or both.