Korean J Med.  2015 Jun;88(6):696-700. 10.3904/kjm.2015.88.6.696.

An Acute Pulmonary Embolism Accompanying Greater Saphenous Vein Thrombosis

• Ryu SM
• Jang M
• Kwon SC
• Kim DH
• Kim RH
• Choi YM
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2269084
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2015.88.6.696

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism is most commonly related to deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities. However, recent studies show that the thrombosis of superficial veins can also progress to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. To our knowledge, there is no Korean report of pulmonary embolism associated with superficial vein thrombosis. We experienced an 82-year-old woman complaining of dyspnea and chest pain. On chest dynamic computed tomography (CT), pulmonary embolism was diagnosed. To evaluate the origin of the pulmonary embolism, abdominal CT, Doppler ultrasonography, and ascending venography of both lower extremities were done. We found no deep vein thrombosis, while thrombus of the proximal left greater saphenous vein was seen. We report a case of pulmonary embolism accompanying greater saphenous vein thrombosis without deep vein thrombosis.

Keyword

Pulmonary embolism; Thrombosis, Venous

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Chest Pain
Dyspnea
Female
Humans
Lower Extremity
Phlebography
Pulmonary Embolism*
Saphenous Vein*
Thorax
Thrombosis*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ultrasonography, Doppler
Veins
Venous Thrombosis