Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Pulmonary embolism—the initial manifestation of renal cell carcinoma in a young woman

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Emergency Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report a case of massive pulmonary embolus demonstrated on CT in a young woman presenting with dyspnea, with no known risk factors for embolism. Abdominal CT on further investigation showed a renal tumor invading the left renal vein and the inferior vena cava as the cause of the pulmonary embolus. In a patient presenting with pulmonary artery embolism without venous thrombosis, the differential diagnosis should include an occult tumor as the cause of the embolus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig.1a–e.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Veinot JP, Ford SE, Price RG (1992) Subacute cor pulmonale due to tumor embolization. Arch Pathol Lab Med 116:131–134

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. King MB, Harmon KR (1994) Unusual forms of tumor embolism. Clin Chest Med 15:561–580

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Rossi SE, Goodman PC, Franquet T (2000) Nonthrombotic pulmonary emboli. AJR Am J Roentgentol 174:1499–1508

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shepard JAO, Moore EH, Templeton PA, McLoud TC (1993) Pulmonary intravascular tumor emboli: dilated and beaded peripheral pulmonary arteries at CT. Radiology 187:797–801

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Winterbauer RH, Elfenbein IB, Ball WC (1968) Incidence and clinical significance of tumor embolization to the lungs. Am J Med 45:271–290

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Balakrishnan J, Meziane MA, Siegelman SS, Fishman EK (1989) Pulmonary infarction: CT appearance with pathologic correlation. J Comput Assist Tomogr 13:941–945

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Daughtry JD, Stewart BH, Golding LAR, Groves LK (1977) Pulmonary embolus presenting as the initial manifestation of renal cell carcinoma. Ann Thorac Surg 24:178–181

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kubota H, Furuse A, Kotsuka Y, Yagyu K, Kawauchi M, Saito H (1996) Successful management of massive pulmonary tumor embolism from renal cell carcinoma. Ann Thorac Surg 61:708–710

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Smith TP (2000) Pulmonary embolism: what's wrong with this diagnosis? AJR Am J Roentgenol 174:1489–1497

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel

    G. Gayer, S. Apter & M. Hertz

  2. Department of Internal Medicine A, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel

    S. Mini & D. Olchovsky

  3. Department of Urology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel

    I. Leibovitch

  4. Department of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel

    R. Weitzen

  5. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zrifin 70300, Zrifin 70300, Israel

    G. Gayer

Authors
  1. G. Gayer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Mini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Olchovsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. Leibovitch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Apter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. Weitzen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Hertz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Gayer.

Additional information

All departments affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gayer, G., Mini, S., Olchovsky, D. et al. Pulmonary embolism—the initial manifestation of renal cell carcinoma in a young woman. Emergency Radiology 10, 43–45 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-002-0262-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-002-0262-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation