A case of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy following lymphedema on the lower extremities

Abstract

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a rare manifestation of malignancy. The antemortem diagnosis is difficult, since patients present with rapidly progressive symptoms. We recently observed a case of PTTM following lymphedema of the lower extremities. We did not reach a diagnosis, even after performing BAL and TBLB. The patient manifested pulmonary hypertension and died on the 9th day of admission. Autopsy revealed a tumor embolism in the pulmonary arterioles accompanied by fibrocellular epithelial cell proliferation, but the primary organ was not identified. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of PTTM with lymphedema.

Keywords

• Pulmonary tumor thrombus microangiopathy
• PTTM
• Lymphedema
• Adenocarcinoma
• Unknown origin