Open AccessTachyarrhythmia secondary to cardiac metastasis as first presentation of non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Author(s) -
Stroppa Elisa Maria,
Malagoli Alessandro,
Cavanna Luigi
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/j.1759-7714.2011.00079.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , lung cancer , adenocarcinoma , metastasis , biopsy , cancer , presentation (obstetrics) , lung , cardiology
We describe a man who presented at our institution with tachyarrhythmia and dyspnea. Echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) of the chest performed during hospitalization revealed a mass within the left atrium. A biopsy of the mass showed a non‐small‐cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma G3. Metastatic involvement of the heart is rare; most cases are asymptomatic and diagnosed only during autopsies. Echocardiography, CT scan and MRI are complementary investigations in the evaluation of cardiac lesions. In the setting of cardiac metastatic cancer, all management is palliative.