A Case Report: Asymptomatic Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosed Before Sigmoid Colon Cancer Operaion

Kaoru Takeshima, Kazuo Yamafuji, Atunori Asami, Noritaka Hayashi, Hideo Baba, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Futoshi Oikawa and Junichi Matsui

Department of Surgery, Saitama City Hospital

We report a case of asymptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) detected before surgery for sigmoid colon cancer. A-73-year-old man diagnosed with pulmonary embolism by chest-computed tomography (CT) was found in pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy to have multiple defects in both lungs and in venograpry of the lower extremities to have DVT in both legs. Anticoagulant therapy was started immediately. After 14 days, no apparent thrombus was seen in the pulmonary artery by pulmonary angiography. After implantation of a vena cava filter to prevent PE, We conducted sigmoidectomy with postoperative anticoagulant therapy and the use of elastic stockings. Our results suggests that the possibility of asymptomatic PE can be recognized perioperatively.

Key words
asymptomatic pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, anticoagulant therapy

Reprint requests
Kaoru Takeshima Department of Surgery, Saitama City Hospital
2460 Mimuro, Midori-ku, Saitama, 336-8522 JAPAN

Accepted
February 28, 2007

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