Korean J Gastroenterol.  1998 Sep;32(3):402-406.

A Case of Pulmonary Embolism Secondary to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Presenting Dyspnea

• Chung YH
• Lee YS
• Suh DJ
• Kim DH
• Joo KR
• Won SY
• Park HJ

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism is a life threatening disease that needs early and accurate diagnosis and prompt management. We have experienced a case of hepatocellular carinoma with pulmonary embolism and subsequent puhnonary infarction. The abdominal CT showed multiple geographic low-density masses in the liver. The masses were extended to the inferior vena cava. The amount of alpha-fetoprotein was 1,150 ng/ml. The chest CT revealed almost complete obstruction of left main pulmonary artery and right inferior lobar artery by emboli and subsequent pulmonary infarction. The evidence of deep vein thrombosis and any other risk factor of pulmonary embolism was not found. He died of sudden cardiac arrest on the 12th day after admission.

Keyword

Dyspnea; Pulmonary embolism; Hepatocellular carinoma

MeSH Terms

alpha-Fetoproteins
Arteries
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Death, Sudden, Cardiac
Diagnosis
Dyspnea*
Infarction
Liver
Pulmonary Artery
Pulmonary Embolism*
Pulmonary Infarction
Risk Factors
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vena Cava, Inferior
Venous Thrombosis
alpha-Fetoproteins