Pulmonary thromboembolism secondary to pelvic thrombosis related to giant ovarian tumor

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is one of the major complications in oncologic patients. The incidence of PTE in these cases is 4 to 7 times higher than in non-oncologic patients. Ovarian tumors, specifically those of large sizes, may impair the blood flow through the pelvic veins as tumor pressure over the pelvic vessels increases the incidence of thrombosis. The authors report the case of the unexpected death of a 74-year-old female due to massive pulmonary thromboembolism, associated with an ovarian tumor almost of 15 kg of weight that filled the abdominal and pelvic cavities. The compressive effect on the walls of the pudendal and periuterine veins somehow facilitated the local thrombosis. According to the histological characterization on post-mortem samples, the mass was identified as an "atypical proliferative (borderline) mucinous tumor." The case emphasizes the important association between pulmonary thromboembolism and ovarian tumors.