Intracardiac metastases from neuroendocrine tumours

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1997 Apr;46(4):517-22. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.1997.1440958.x.

Abstract

We report three cases of intra-cardiac metastases from neuroendocrine tumours of the carcinoid type. One presented in a manner identical to a left atrial myxoma; in one patient a left atrial mass was noted during investigations for weight loss and a lung mass; and in the third, two right ventricular deposits were detected on echocardiography when a patient with a disseminated GHRH-secreting tumour was investigated for dyspnoea. Although to our knowledge this is only the third report of these lesions, we believe that this represents a form of carcinoid heart disease that is distinct from the valvular abnormalities seen in some patients with carcinoid syndrome. Neuroendocrine metastases should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intra-cardiac tumours.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoid Tumor / secondary*
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Neoplasms / pathology
  • Heart Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged