Bilateral pulmonary embolism in a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis: a rare association in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism is a complication of pulmonary tuberculosis that has received little emphasis in the literature. We describe a 52 year old male, with no risk factors for thromboembolic disease referred to our service for an in depth clinical review for cardiomegaly and dyspnea on exertion. Echocardiography and CT scans revealed dilated heart cavities and bilateral proximal pulmonary emboli respectively and a cavitation in the apical lobe of the right lung. Bronchial aspirate and culture revealed the presence of mycobacterium tuberculosis. There was no evidence of malignancy. Elsewhere, a clinical review and a lower limb ultrasound showed no evidence of deep venous thrombosis. Clinical course on anti - tuberculosis and anti - coagulant therapies was remarkably favorable. Clinicians need to be conscious of the risk of developing thromboembolic disease in patients treated for tuberculosis, in especially high prevalence settings like ours.

A rare complication of pulmonary tuberculosis - Pulmonary venous thrombosis with atrial extension

“… 10 Case of tubercular lung cavitation with emboli in bilateral proximal pulmonary artery was reported. 11 Vascular complications often correlate with the severity of tuberculosis. 12…”

Complicaciones tromboembólicas asociadas con tuberculosis: reporte de un caso pediátrico

“…Entre las principales complicaciones tromboembólicas, se ha descrito el compromiso de las venas de miembros inferiores, las hepáticas y los senos venosos cerebrales (13,16). En el presente caso, hubo daño en la vena renal con extensión significativa hasta la vena cava inferior y la superior.…”

Tuberculose pariétale compliquée d’embolie pulmonaire

“…La tuberculose extra-pulmonaire représente 46,2% des cas [ 1 ]. L'embolie pulmonaire est une complication de la tuberculose pulmonaire qui a reçu peu d'attention dans la littérature [ 3 ]. C'est une complication rare mais qui peut mettre en jeu le pronostic vital [ 4 ].…”