Fatal Pulmonary Thromboembolism due to Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the most undiagnosed causes of death, and more than half of fatal PE is discovered only during autopsy. The author reports a case of sudden death from massive pulmonary thromboembolism due to an inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis caused by chronic pancreatitis. An extensive search for the location of the thrombus identified the source of emboli. The probable mechanism of IVC thrombosis caused by chronic pancreatitis is discussed. Awareness of this serious complication of chronic pancreatitis may have prevented the sudden death.