title: Pulmonary vein thrombosis associated with a large hiatal hernia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary vein thrombosis is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. Reported cases of pulmonary vein thrombosis commonly occur as a complication of pulmonary surgery. There is a paucity of literature describing its clinical manifestations and non-operative causes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report the unique case of pulmonary vein thrombosis associated with a large hiatal hernia in a patient initially presenting with renal infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 68-year-old man initially presented with increasing intensity of left lower quadrant pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed left renal infarctions. Searching for an embolic source, further investigation revealed left inferior pulmonary vein thrombosis in the setting of venous compression in the lung tissue adjacent to a large hiatal hernia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large hiatal hernias may be a nidus for pulmonary vein thrombosis, a potential source of left-sided emboli.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Veteran Affairs San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA
authors.forename: Jutamas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saoraya
authors.forename: Pholaphat Charles
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Inboriboon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000150:complications; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011667:Pulmonary Veins; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications*