1991 Volume 31 Issue 4 Pages 547-550
Two cases of pulmonary embolism after lung cancer resection were reported. The first case was a pT1NOMO adenocarcinoma. Six days after operation, dyspnea on exertion and hypoxia developed, and pulmonary embolism was diagnosed because of abnormal lung scintigram findings. She recovered following heparin administration. The second case was a pT3N2M0 squamous cell carcinoma. Ten days after operation, circulatory collapse developed and the patient died. Diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy. Close attention must be paid to pulmonary embolism associated with lung cancer, because it is not rare, and the diagnosis and management of this situation are complicated.
