CT Demonstration of Subcutaneous Venous Collaterals

Abstract

Collateral veins (s.c.) identified by computed tomography (CT) in 12 patients. These were seen as enhancing round or tubular structures surrounded by s.c. fat, and most were associated with occlusion of a major vein in the abdomen or thorax. The CT appearance of deep vein occlusions included an intraluminal thrombus with an enhancing rim, a mass replacing the nonvisualized vein and distortion of the vein by an adjacent mass. The s.c. fat was examined on the CT scans of 50 patients not suspected of having deep venous occlusions. The appearance of normal s.c. structures and the differential diagnosis are discussed.