Bilateral pulmonary embolism in a high-level athlete: A case report of autopsy discovery

We report a case of a 35-year-old professional basketball player who had an influenza-like sickness that quickly progressed to death. A massive bilateral pulmonary embolism was established by the histological analysis and autopsy. Only a few cases of pulmonary embolism associated with sports activities have been reported in the literature. Multiple factors are implicated in the occurrence of this pathology. Early diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is the key to avoiding a fatal outcome. Doctors play an important role in prevention since they determine the medical aptitude of an athlete as soon as he or she is hired, keep the medical files of all the athletes, and carry out periodic and specific medical check-ups.