[Compensative dilatation of the vena azygos by abnormalities of the vena cava inferior - a contribution to the differential diagnosis of the tumorsuspected right tracheobronchial angle (author's transl)].

Report on 2 patients, with a mediastinal enlargement at the right tracheobronchial angle revealing an ectasis of the orifice of vena-azygos. It could be shown that the enlargement of the vena azygos ist due to an increase of the flow-volume, caused by an abnormal embryonic drainage of the vena cava inferior into the vena azygos. The diagnostic possibilities for differentiation from vascular and nonvascular space-occupying processes in that region are discussed. An exact diagnosis is possible by angiography.