Noncatheter-associated vegetative phlebitis of the superior vena cava presenting with multiple lung abscesses

Real time three-dimensional echocardiography and endovascular stenting

A 52-year-old male with HIV and chronic renal failure presented with 2-day history of fever and chills. He had recent superior vena cava (SVC) stent placement for SVC stenosis following multiple dialysis-catheter insertions. Patient's blood cultures grew methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography showed no vegetations. With high clinical suspicion, 2D transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was obtained and confirmed no endocarditis and patent stent at SVC right atrial junction; however, entire stent was not visualized. Simultaneous three-dimensional TEE provided superior views of SVC stent in cross-sectional and longitudinal planes, clearly demonstrating patent stent without vegetations, stenosis, migration, or thrombosis.