title: A diagnostic dilemma of fever and back pain postpartum.
abstract: A 26-year-old woman presented with fever, chills, and back pain 6 weeks postpartum. An infused CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with IV contrast confirmed septic pelvic vein thrombophlebitis as the diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing such a massive thrombophlebitis extending from the superior vena cava to the femoral vein inferiorly responsive to conventional anticoagulation therapy. This exceptional case reminds us to entertain septic pelvic thrombophlebitis in the differential of any patient who presents with fever and back pain of unknown etiology.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. umjassal@cc.umanitoba.ca
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jassal
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Fjeldsted
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior