Pulmonary Embolism Due To Metal Coil: Case Report

Abstract

Radiological studies may sometimes reveal unexpected findings. A 42-year-old male patient was referred to our center because of metallic opacities observed on the chest X-ray. Physical examination was unremarkable except for macular lesions on both lower extremities. A detailed medical history revealed that the patient had a varicocele in the right testis which was obliterated with coil embolization 12 years ago. The metallic opacities observed on the chest X-ray were considered to result from the migration of the coils from testis to the lungs. Coil embolization is an effective and safe procedure in the treatment of varicocele. However, as presented in the case, the procedure may cause complications in a certain subgroup of patients. Migration of coils from the varicose testicular veins to the pulmonary vessels may be clinically insignificant; however, when found incidentally, it may pose a diagnostic problem that needs to be solved by the clinician.