Pulmonary Embolism Caused by Intravenous Leiomyosarcoma of the Lower Limb

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 57; no. 10; pp. 1425 - 1428
• Main Authors: Tsukada, Toru, Goto, Masahide, Kado, Soichiro, Yamao, Hidetsugu, Uekusa, Yoshifumi, Sato, Masataka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 15.05.2018; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Biopsy; Case Report; Computed tomography; deep vein thrombosis; Dyspnea; Embolism; Embolisms; Health risk assessment; Internal medicine; Intravenous administration; leiomyosarcoma; Pulmonary arteries; pulmonary embolism; Respiration; Thrombosis; Tumors; Veins & arteries; venous thromboembolism; leiomyosarcoma; deep vein thrombosis; pulmonary embolism; venous thromboembolism
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0030-17

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is usually caused by thrombosis or tumor. We report the long-term survival of a patient with PE due to a leiomyosarcoma in the deep vein. A 71-year-old woman complained of dyspnea and swelling of the left lower limb. Computed tomography revealed filling defects in the pulmonary arteries and deep vein. She was diagnosed with PE caused by venous thrombosis and treated with anticoagulant therapy. Her symptoms were prolonged, and D-dimer tests remained negative. Biopsy of the substance in the deep vein revealed leiomyosarcoma. The possibility of PE caused by extravascular or intravascular tumors should be considered when a patient is negative for D-dimer.