Pulmonary embolus masquerading as pneumonia in a patient with Hodgkin's disease and nephrotic syndrome

Fatal pulmonary embolus is an infrequent cause of death in patients with Ho dgkin's disease who respond to initial therapy. This patient had associated minimal change disease and nephrotic syndrome that was responding to thera py, but had this complication. The diagnosis was delayed by the presentatio n that suggested pneumonia. A high index of suspicion for thrombotic compli cations and an aggressive diagnostic pursuit thereof are merited in these p atients.