Syncope as the initial presentation of pulmonary embolism in a young adult with testicular tumor: A case report and literature review

Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Dec;97(52):e13798. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000013798.

Abstract

Rationale: Venous thrombus embolism (VTE) includes deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) which may be an initial symptom for patients with cancer. PE has diverse clinical manifestations and is a rare complication of testicular tumor (TT).

Patient concerns: Here, we report a 21-year-old man admitted to our hospital due to syncope.

Diagnoses: Clinical examinations upon admission demonstrated PE resulting in syncope. Further, a malignant TT, liver metastasis, and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis were diagnosed.

Interventions: Low molecular heparin was administered immediately after PE was diagnosed.

Outcomes: The patient suffered from cardiac arrest on hospitalization.

Lessons: Physicians should consider the possibility of TT when a young male patient presents with syncope and is diagnosed with PE that cannot be explained by a common cause. Treatment for TT and PE should be performed as early as possible to improve the prognosis of patients combine with TT and PE.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Pulmonary Embolism / etiology*
  • Syncope / etiology*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / complications*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / pathology
  • Vena Cava, Inferior*
  • Venous Thrombosis / etiology*
  • Young Adult