A rare incidental finding in a case of painless jaundice

Portal vein thrombosis secondary to protein C deficiency is a rare finding. Diagnosing a portal vein thrombosis itself is difficult due to nonspecific symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss. Proving that a protein C deficiency is the cause of a portal vein thrombosis is even more difficult as an extensive and thorough workup is required to rule out malignancies, myeloproliferative disorders, and hypercoaguable states which can all lead to thromboses. Patients require anticoagulation to prevent two dangerous complications of portal vein thrombosis; portal hypertension leading to esophageal varices with massive hemetemesis and extension of thrombus from the portal vein into the mesenteric veins leading to intestinal ischemia and death. In this case report, we present a patient with the complaint of painless jaundice who was found to have an incidental finding of portal vein thrombosis secondary to protein C deficiency. The different etiologies of portal vein thrombosis, along with diagnosis and treatment options will be discussed and highlighted.