A Young Testicular Cancer Case Presenting With an Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis and Bilateral Pulmonary Embolisms

Abstract

The increased risk of thromboembolic events is well known in patients with cancer. We aimed to highlight this relationship in a case of testicular cancer. A 25-year-old young man was admitted to our hospital with complaints of sudden onset chest pain and dyspnea. Physical examination revealed a respiratory rate of 30/min and a blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg. A partial reduction of breath sounds in the basal posterior of the right lung was present on lung auscultation. Posteroanterior chest radiography was interpreted as normal. Echocardiographic evaluation revealed severe dilatation and hypertrophy of the right heart, and the pulmonary arterial pressure was 75 mmHg. Multi-detector computed tomography showed a submassive pulmonary embolism and inferior vena cava thrombosis. The level of serum alpha-fetoprotein was slightly higher than normal. A right testicular mass was found upon physical examination. A right orchiectomy operation was performed. Pathological investigation revealed a malignant mixed germinal tumor of the testicle. In conclusion, in cases of thromboembolism in young males, physicians should consider the possibility of testicular cancer.