Intractable obstructive shock as a result of isolated cardiac metastases: a case report

Int Surg. 2001 Jul-Sep;86(3):198-200.

Abstract

Cardiac metastases are uncommon and difficult to diagnose clinically; thus, they are most often found only at autopsy. Here we present a case of isolated right atrial cardiac metastasis found 7 weeks after the resection of the primary tumor, which was an adenocarcinoma of the lung. The patient presented with intractable obstructive shock, caused by a ball-valve effect of the atrial lesion that prevented forward blood flow from the right atrium. Computed tomography (CT) scans and echocardiograms failed to detect the lesion, and the patient died 2 weeks later. An autopsy revealed a large, isolated right atrial metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / complications
  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Aged
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Heart Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology
  • Shock / etiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed