[Pathology of pulmonary embolism].

The incidence of pulmonary embolism was surveyed in 500 serial autopsy records (1984-1989) in Nagoya University Hospital. This disease occurred in 77 cases (15.4%) and acute fatal pulmonary embolism was the cause of death in 30 cases (6.0%). This incidence was higher than has previously been reported in Japan, and almost the same as the incidence reported is USA or Western Europe. Thromboembolism was the major cause of this phenomenon in our series. Thirty-four cases were thrombo-embolized. Venous thrombi in 15 cases resulted from intravenous catheter. Tumor emboli were observed in 18 cases, bone or soft part sarcomas in 6 cases, hepatocellular carcinomas in 6 and renal cell carcinomas in 3. Fungus emboli were observed in 19 cases. Aspergillus was the major cause of thrombi in 14 immunocompromised patients. Six typical cases (1. post traumatic thromboembolism, 2. fatal thromboembolism due to catheter, 3. tumor embolism, 4. fungal embolism, 5. amniotic fluid embolism and 6. bone marrow embolism) were discussed from the viewpoint of clinicopathology.