Membranous obstruction of inferior vena cava in Taiwan.

Membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava (MOVC) is a rare cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome. When compared to the West, the incidence of MOVC was reported to be higher in the Orient, India and South Africa. From 1979 to 1993, 16 consecutive Chinese patients (mean age 50 years) with MOVC were retrospectively evaluated. The diagnosis in these MOVC patients was usually delayed with a mean lag time of 111 months. Most of the cases were detected by a delicate ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen. Segmental narrowing of the inferior vena cava in 11 patients was the predominant type of MOVC, while five experienced a membranous obstructive type. Only one of five surgery-treated patients had a post-operation survival > 5 years, while five out of the nine patients who received conservative treatment still survived after a 6-15 year follow up. Two patients received percutaneous angioplasty (PTA). One survived 4 years and the other expired 5 years after the PTA. Two patients (12%) developed a hepatocellular carcinoma in their disease course, and the incidence was lower than in previous reports from Japan and South Africa. The incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen in MOVC did not increase in our patients compared with the general population. In conclusion, the inferior vena cava should be carefully evaluated in an ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen to increase the diagnosis rate of MOVC. Surgical intervention should be carefully justified according to the patient's symptoms and signs, the types of obstructive lesions and the expertise of the surgeons.