Fatal Pulmonary Thromboembolism Caused by Popliteal Vein Aneurysm

Postmortem examination has a critical role in determining the causes of death in sudden unexpected deaths. Fatal pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a cause of sudden natural death, and it is important to evaluate the underlying cause of PTE at postmortem examination. Various disorders or risk factors of PTE have been well known, such as malignancy, pregnancy, trauma, surgery and so on, or inherited thrombophilia [1]. While we are performing postmortem examination, such various disorders or risk factors should be concerned and examined in every organ and in deep veins in the lower extremities. Venous aneurysms (VAs) are rare [2, 4]. They are asymptomatic or used to be presented as various localized lesions [2-4]. However, they also may be presented as PTE when thrombi formation occurs in the aneurysm [2-4]. It suggests that it is necessary to examine the venous structures of the body as well to check for deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities. Herein, we present a case of a woman who suddenly died of fatal PTE. The deceased had no various disorders or risk factors related to PTE, and chronic venous disease such as deep vein thrombosis. However, a VA with intraluminal thrombosis was observed at the left Korean J Leg Med 2018;42:102-104 https://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.3.102