Acute Pulmonary Embolism Caused by Enlarged Uterine Leiomyoma: A Rare Presentation
Unusual clinical course, Challenging differential diagnosis, Diagnostic / therapeutic accidents, Management of emergency care, Educational Purpose (only if useful for a systematic review or synthesis)
Kamal Khademvatani, Yousef Rezaei, Abdollah Kerachian, Mir Hossein Seyyed-Mohammadzad, Ramin Eskandari, Alireza Rostamzadeh
Department of Cardiology, Seyyed-al-Shohada Heart Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Am J Case Rep 2014; 15:300-303
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.890607
Available online: 2014-07-13
Published: 2014-07-13
Background:
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and subsequent pulmonary embolism (PE) caused by pelvic vein compression are rare and life-threatening complications of leiomyoma of the uterus.
Case Report:
We report a 42-year-old virgin woman with a history of leiomyoma who presented to the emergency department with complaints of dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain with transient spotting. On physical examination, she had a non-tender abdomen with a 20-week size uterus. Imaging investigations revealed an acute DVT in her left leg and a huge uterine-derived mass compressing the common iliac veins. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) demonstrated an echogenic mass in her right pulmonary artery consistent with thrombosis. The patient was completely cured using thrombolytic therapy and myomectomy, and was well at 1 year after thrombolysis.
Conclusions:
PE caused by pelvic vein compression is a rare complication of leiomyoma, which should be considered. Thrombolytic therapy associated with myomectomy can be implemented for treating such cases, and TEE can be used for diagnosing suspected high-risk PE.
Keywords: Echocardiography, Leiomyoma, Pulmonary Embolism, Thrombolytic Therapy
