Ultrasonographic diagnosis of incomplete inferior vena caval thrombosis secondary to periphlebitis: the importance of a complete survey examination.

A case of unsuspected, asymptomatic, partial thrombotic occlusion of the inferior vena cava secondary to endometritis and periphlebitis is presented. The diagnostic findings of this entity are described, and the importance of a complete abdominal survey, especially in the septic patient, is emphasized. Real-time sector scanning greatly facilitates the performance of this survey.