[Catheter-induced thrombosis of the inferior vena cava--case report].

A 47-year-old woman was admitted for bleeding from gastric ulcer for which a central venous catheter was placed through the right femoral vein. Seven days later, abdominal echograms unexpectedly revealed a large thrombus along the catheter in the inferior vena cava. Because the echograms also disclosed the thrombus immobile even in postural change, the catheter was pulled out. Within two weeks following the catheter removal, the thrombus spontaneously disappeared with no evidence of pulmonary embolism. Although thrombolysis therapy may be the treatment of choice for catheter-induced thrombosis, simple removal of the catheter is effective in case that the thrombus is immobile.