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Endobronchial/Tracheal Metastasis and Sudden Death
Author(s) -
Byard Roger W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12431
Subject(s) - medicine , autopsy , malignancy , sudden death , pathology , renal cell carcinoma , metastasis , carcinoma , cause of death , cancer , disease
Endobronchial and endotracheal metastases are rare lesions that may cause acute occlusion of major airways. A case is reported of a 62‐year‐old man with history of renal cell carcinoma and hemoptysis who died after having suddenly become short of breath with cyanosis. At autopsy, recurrent renal cell carcinoma was identified with metastases to the lungs, pulmonary hilar lymph nodes, and brain. In addition, a solitary papillomatous metastasis arising from the mucosa of the carina was obstructing both the main bronchi and distal trachea. Death was due to acute airway obstruction by a metastatic deposit at the bifurcation of the trachea in a case of disseminated renal cell carcinoma. This case demonstrates an extremely rare cause of sudden death that may complicate disseminated malignancy.