2003 Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 31-36
The frequencies and distributions of bands and webs (b&w), which was one of specific forms of organized thrombi, were investigated. Histopathological examination of pulmonary arteries and deep veins was performed in nine autopsy cases with massive pulmonary thromboembolism. (3 male 6 female, mean age 59.8±16.5year-old).
b&w in pulmonary arteries was found in eight patients and in deep vein in seven patients, which strongly suggested their subclinical history of recurrent thromboemboli.
The frequencies in pulmonary arteries were differing in each patient though; the distributions were seemed to extend according to the high frequency.
We classified the nine cases into two groups by the distributions of b&w in lower extremities; the number of the patients in group S, which b&w were locally in soleal veins or none, were three. Those of in group B, which b&w were extended to lower extremities, were six.
The mean frequencies of b&w in pulmonary arteries in two groups were 6.2% in group S and 40.0% in group B.
These results suggest that when the recurrent history of thrombosis increases and the distributions of b&w extend in lower extremities, the frequency of b&w in pulmonary artery also increases and that might lead to the disturbance of their pulmonary circulation.
Then early treatment of deep vein thrombosis is required for proper prognosis of pulmonary thromboembolism.
