# Spinal Venous Engorgement Secondary to Congenital Absence of the Infrarenal Inferior Vena Cava Mimicking Cauda Equina Syndrome

## TL;DR

A man with symptoms resembling cauda equina syndrome was found to have a rare spinal vein issue due to a missing part of his inferior vena cava.

## Contribution

The paper presents a rare case of IVC agenesis mimicking CES, highlighting the importance of considering vascular anomalies in diagnostic assessments.

## Key findings

- The patient's CES-like symptoms were caused by spinal venous engorgement due to IVC agenesis.
- Multidisciplinary assessment was crucial in identifying the correct diagnosis.
- This case expands the understanding of IVC anomalies and their clinical implications.

## Abstract

This case report contributes to the limited literature by describing a man in his early forties who presented with symptoms suggestive of cauda equina syndrome (CES). Initial investigations focused on identifying a possible spinal lesion as the underlying cause. However, further imaging and multidisciplinary team assessment revealed a rare vascular anomaly: agenesis of the infrarenal segment of the inferior vena cava (IVC), a condition with a distinct etiology that requires a fundamentally different approach to management.