Open AccessCardiac metastasis causes paradoxical malignant embolism
Author(s) -
Wagner Britta Janina,
Hobbach HansPeter,
Hobbach Anastasia Janina,
Hieggelke Lena Katharina,
Grond Martin,
Monsefi Nadejda,
Buettner Reinhard
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
cancer reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 5
ISSN - 2573-8348
DOI - 10.1002/cnr2.1513
Subject(s) - medicine , embolus , embolism , patent foramen ovale , paradoxical embolism , cardiology , stroke (engine) , brain metastasis , myocardial infarction , metastasis , etiology , arterial embolism , radiology , cancer , mechanical engineering , migraine , engineering
Abstract Background Embolic events play an important role in clinical everyday practice. Malignant arterial embolism is a rare nevertheless often fatal entity for cardiac, cerebral or systemic ischemia, requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. Case This is a case report of a 65 years‐old female, suffering from pulmonal adenocarcinoma, who was hospitalized due to neurological deficits caused by an acute ischemic stroke, followed by anterior myocardial infarction within 3 days. Diagnostic work‐up revealed metastasis of the pulmonal adenocarcinoma in the right atrium and a patent foramen ovale. Histopathological examination of the coronary embolus verified paradoxical arterial embolism of the pulmonal adenocarcinoma into a coronary vessel and consequently cerebral arteries. Conclusion The present case underlines the need for (i), consideration of malignant embolism, (ii) histopathological examination of the embolus to determine its etiology, and (iii) interdisciplinary discussion of individual therapeutic and prevention strategies in cancer patients with cerebral, cardiac or systemic embolic events.