Pulmonary vein thrombosis associated with metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma: a case report

Abstract

Background Pulmonary vein thrombosis (PVT) is rarely associated with malignancies. Leiomyosarcoma, a malignant tumor originating from smooth muscles, has never been reported as the etiology of PVT. Case presentation In this case report, we described a 43-year-old Kurdish woman with a known case of leiomyosarcoma who presented with hemoptysis, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) angiography revealed a thrombus in the left infero-posterior pulmonary vein. She was successfully treated with unfractionated heparin administered intravenously followed by orally administered warfarin. At the end of the article, we describe and compare other reports of malignancy-related PVT. Conclusions While malignancies are not a common cause of PVT, both primary lung tumors and metastatic cancers could be associated with PVT. Delay in diagnosis may lead to serious complications and even death. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of the development of PVT in different malignancies for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.