Total avulsion of the azygos vein and longitudinal laceration of the mediastinal pleura due to blunt chest trauma: a case report.

Complete avulsion of the azygos venous arch associated with a subtotal longitudinal laceration of the posterior mediastinal pleura resulting from blunt motor vehicular trauma is reported. A sudden forceful anteromedial rotation of the decelerating cardiac mass may be the etiologic mechanism of the rare injury.