Tumorectomy to Avoid Sudden Death by Pulmonary Embolism in a Patient with a Cardiac Tumor Originating from the Esophagus / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Tumor metastasis to the endocardium is rare. The patient was 58-year-old man who was given a diagnosis of a metastatic tumor to the right atrium and right ventricle. The tumor originated from the esophagus, and the patient was at risk of sudden death caused by acute pulmonary embolism. We performed tumorectomy to reduce the risk of sudden death. The postoperative course was satisfactory, and the tumorectomy was followed by chemotherapy. The 5-year survival rate in such cases has been reported to be only approximately 11%. However, resection of tumor mass may be useful for improving postoperative QOL and reducing the risk of sudden death.

A Case Report: Cavitary Infarction Caused by Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy in a Patient with Pancreatic Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm

Pulmonary tumor embolism is commonly discovered at autopsy, but is rarely suspected ante-mortem. Microangiopathy is an uncommon and distinct form of simple tumor pulmonary embolism. Here, we present a 52-year-old male with tumor thrombotic microangiopathy and pulmonary infarction, which might have originated from intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas. Multiple wedge-shaped consolidations were found initially and aggravated with cavitation. These CT features of pulmonary infarction were pathologically confirmed to result from pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy.

Carcinomatosis linfática y embolismo tumoral pulmonar / Lymphangitic Carcinomatosis and Pulmonary Tumor Embolism

La linfangitis carcinomatosa es un trastorno relativamente poco común caracterizado por la infiltración difusa de los vasos linfáticos pulmonares por cáncer metastásico. Es una manifestación tardía que implica mal pronóstico. El diagnóstico puede ser difícil y requiere de un alto índice de sospecha. La embolia pulmonar tumoral es la presencia de múltiples acúmulos de células tumorales en las pequeñas arterias, arteriolas y capilares septales del pulmón. La oclusión de la microvasculatura pulmonar por células tumorales y trombos asociados puede producir una entidad clínica subaguda y progresiva que se asemeja a la enfermedad tromboembólica . Algunas modalidades de imágenes pueden ayudar a definir el diagnóstico, especialmente gammagrafía pulmonar de ventilación-perfusión y su característico patrón de múltiples defectos de perfusión sub- segmentarios periféricos sin alteraciones ventilatorias o en la angiografía. El tratamiento no ha sido ampliamente estudiado, ya que el diagnóstico por lo general no se realiza hasta después de la muerte. Se realiza una revisión de la literatura sobre la evaluación y el diagnóstico de estas dos entidades clínicas poco frecuentes.

Lymphangitic carcinomatosis is a relatively uncommon disorder characterized by diffuse infiltration of the pulmonary lymphatics by metastatic cancer. It is a late manifestation of malignancy that implies bad prognosis. The diagnosis can be difficult and requires a high degree of suspicion. Microscopic pulmonary tumor embolism is the presence of multiple aggregates of tumor cells in the small pulmonary arteries, arterioles and septal capillaries. Occlusion of the pulmonary microvasculature by tumor cells and associated thrombi can produce a subacute and progressive clinical entity that resembles thromboembolic disease. Some imaging studies may help to define the diagnosis, especially the ventilation-perfusion lung scan and its typical pattern of multiple peripheral sub-segmental perfusion defects without ventilatory abnormalities or the angiography. Treatment for this entity has not been extensively studied, since the diagnosis is usually made postmortem. We provide a review of the literature about the evaluation and diagnosis of these two infrequent clinical entities.

A Case of Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma With Pulmonary Tumor Embolism

The tumor embolism is defined as tumor cells within the vascular system such as pulmonary artery that is not contiguous with the other metastatic foci. The incidence of tumor embolism varies widely ranging from 3% to 26% among several studies; whereas lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreas cancer are associated with high risks for tumor embolism. However thyroid cancer is rarely associated with tumor embolism. Among the rare cases, tumor embolism was reported as being mostly of follicular carcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma, but few of papillary carcinoma. We report an unusual presentation that pulmonary tumor embolism from thyroid papillary carcinoma was diagnosed with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) and chest CT.

Acute Upper Extremity Ischemia Caused by a Tumor Embolism / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 52-year-old woman had undergone colectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for stage IV cecal cancer with peritoneal dissemination and multiple metastases to the lung and liver. After two years of follow-up, she suddenly had right upper limb pain and was reffered to our hospital for treatment of acute upper limb ischemia. Enhanced CT revealed obstruction of the right brachial artery and metastatic lung cancer with pulmonary vein invasion. We performed emergency embolectomy with local anesthesia. The patient's perioperative course was uneventful. Pathological findings of the removed embolus revealed that it contained adenocarcinoma cells. We concluded that the embolus had originated from the metastatic lung cancer with pulmonary vein invasion.

A Case Report of Breast Cancer with Extensive Pulmonary Lymphovascular Tumor Emboli / 한국유방암학회지

We describe a patient with breast cancer who relapsed with an extensive pulmonary lymphovascular tumor embolism. A 38-year-old female, who previously received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and curative resection of breast cancer, underwent adjuvant chemotherapy and was referred to the emergency room because of sudden-onset pleuritic chest pain lasting for 10 days. Despite a trial of empirical antibiotics, the chest pain and the extent of consolidative lung lesion on chest radiographs rapidly aggravated. We performed an open lung biopsy to confirm the etiology. The histopathological review revealed a hemorrhagic infarction caused by lymphovascular tumor emboli from a metastatic breast carcinoma. Palliative first-line chemotherapy was administered, consisting of ixabepilone and capecitabine, and the lung lesion improved markedly.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Bile Duct Tumor Thrombi / 영남의대학술지

Obstruction of the bile duct owing to the direct extension of a tumor is occasionally found in patients with a hepatic neoplasm, but bile duct tumor thrombus caused by the intrabiliary transplantation of a free-floating tumor is a rare complication of hepatocellular carcinoma. A 50-year-old woman was diagnosed with HCC with bile duct tumor thrombi. She received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) because her liver function was not suitable for surgery at the time of diagnosis. After TACE, infected biloma occurred recurrently. Thus, resection of the HCC, including the bile duct tumor thrombi, was performed. Six months after the surgery, recurred HCC in the distal common bile duct as drop metastasis was noted. The patient was treated with tomotherapy and has been alive for three years as of this writing, without recurrence. The prognosis of HCC with bile duct tumor thrombi is considered dismal, but if appropriate procedures are selected and are actively carried out, long-term survival can occasionally be achieved.

Spontaneous Systemic Tumor Embolism Caused by Tumor Invasion of Pulmonary Vein in a Patient with Advanced Lung Cancer

We describe a 72-year-old man who presented with left hemiparesis due to acute cerebral infarction in the right fronto-temporal lobe. Three months prior to admission, he was hospitalized for right hemiparesis due to the acute cerebral infarction in the left anterior cerebral artery territory. To investigate the cause of his recurrent embolic event, a chest computed tomography scan and echocardiography were performed, which revealed advanced lung cancer invading contiguously through the pulmonary veins to the right main pulmonary artery and left atrium. Tumor embolism is a rare cause of stroke, occurring with primary or metastatic neoplasms of the lung. Echocardiography is a useful tool in patients with cerebral embolic episodes.

Infarction and Perforation of the Small Intestine due to Tumor Emboli from Disseminated Rectal Cancer

Small bowel perforation due to hematogenous metastatic tumor emboli is a rare event, especially in a patient with rectal cancer. We report a 75-year-old man with relapsed rectal cancer who developed an acute abdomen, which was found to be due to a perforated terminal ileum. Emergency surgery involved segmental resection and ileostomy. The pathology of the resected small bowel showed multifocal and extensive metastatic tumor emboli in the entire wall, leading to transmural infarction followed by perforation, without a discrete tumor mass. The pathology with immunohistochemistry showed a rectal tumor that was positive for CK-20 but negative for CK-7 and TTF-1. This extremely rare complication of rectal cancer resulted from ischemia and infarct caused by disseminated metastatic tumor emboli without direct invasion or mass formation.

Retroperitoneal Yolk Sac Tumor in Adult Woman Presenting as Spinal Cord Compression and Fatal Pulmonary Tumor Embolism

A 35-year-old woman, previously treated for systemic metastases from retroperitoneal yolk sac tumor, presented with progressive painful paraparesis. Preoperative images showed severe cord compression by the metastatic infiltration of the lumbar vertebrae and epidural mass as well as a huge retroperitoneal mass. While performing unremarkable surgery in prone position, the patient abruptly fell into hypoxic insults and circulatory arrest. Intraoperative pulmonary tumor embolism was deemed a cause of death. When planning operative procedure for this dangerous malignancy, scrupulous manipulation is mandated and the possibility of fatal pulmonary tumor embolism should also be addressed and fully discussed preoperatively.

Hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for primary liver cancer with portal vein tumor thrombosis / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of hypofractionated 3DCRT for primary liver cancer(PLC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis(PVTT).Methods Between April 1999 and August 2003,34 PLC patients with PVTT received hypofractionated 3DCRT.The severity of hepatic cirrhosis was 23 in Child-Pugh gradeA and 11 gradeB.The median value of GTV was 773?cm~3(105-2097?cm~3).The radiotherapy regimen consisted of 38-63?Gy in 7-15 fractions with 4-8?Gy per fraction(median value 5?Gy),the treatment was delivered 3 times per week during every other day.Results Having response rate(CR+PR) of 76%(26/34),the overall 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rate at was 36%,19% and 13%,respectively.Conclusion Hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy is effective for primary liver cancer with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

CT Appearances of Liver Hemodynamic Change in Patients with Tumor Embolismus in Portal Vein / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To study the hemodynamic change and the machanism of anomalous enhancement of hepatic peripheral area in arterial phase in patients with tumor embolismus in portal vein.Methods The imaging data in 30 cases of hepatic carcinoma (hepatic cell carcinoma in 28 cases and metastatic carcinoma in 2 cases)with tumor embolismus in portal vein confirmed by CT and angiography were reviewed and analysed.Results The tumor embolism were formed in portal stem vein is 3 cases,portal stem vein right and left branches in 18 cases,and right and left branches in 9 cases.The cavernous transformation of portal vein was in 26 cases.The blood vessel grouped and thickened in hepatic portal,the fissure of liver and fossa of gallblader were showed on CT.The hepatic peripheral area was enhanced in arterial phase in 10 cases.Conclusion The collateral branch underwent cavernous transformation after formation of tumor embolism in portal vein the liver blood supply is still maintain.The hepatic peripheral area in arterial phase are anomalously enhanced,it is suggested that the portal vein blood supply is reduction and the arterial blood supply is complemently increased.

Effect of ultrasound-mediated disruption on the ultrastructure and the cell cycle of hepatoma / 中国微创外科杂志

Objective To observe changes of the ultrastructure and the cell cycle of hepatoma cells exposed to ultrasound-mediated disruption. Methods Suspensions of Walker-256 hepatoma in vitro exposed to ultrasound disruption with the acoustic power output 0 22 W and the ultrasound frequency 42 kHz were observed by the scanning electron microscopy, the transmission electron microscopy and the flow cytometric analysis of DNA content. Results Cells after ultrasound disruption revealed by scanning electron microscopy exhibited ruptured membrance, disordered organellae and disrupted nucleus, showing typical severe destruction of the cells. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content demonstrated an increased in the population of cells in the G 2 and M phases of the cell cycle but a decrease in number of cells in the S phase, suggesting an inhibition of the cell synthese and an increased sensitivity to radiation. Conclusions Ultrasound disruption can destroy tumor cells effectively at the cellular level.

Wilms' Tumor Presenting as Sudden Death due to Pulmonary Tumor Embolism / 대한법의학회지

Wilms' tumor is the most common urinary tract neoplasm and one of the most frequent solid abdominal malignant tumors of childhood, usually diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 5 years. Typically, it is manifested as an asymptomatic unilateral or upper abdominal mass. Abdimonal pain after some traumatic incident, fever, anemia, hematuria and hypertension are other patterns of presentation. In a considerable number of these patients, pulmonary metastases are present at the time of primary diagnosis. But, the initial presentation of acute pulmonary tumor emboli without surgical manipulation is very rare. We describe a sudden unexpected infantile death case diagnosed as pulmonary tumor embolism preexisting Wilms tumor. To our knowledge, this is the initial autopsy presentation of Wilms tumor with tumor embolism as sudden and unexpected death in Korea.

A Case of Cerebral Infarction Caused by Tumor Emboli from the Site of

Multiple cerebral infarction developed in a 36-year-old woman with adenocarcinoma of the right lung with direct cardiac invasion. Neurological examination and brain MRI showed findings of ordinary infarction. Transesophageal echocardiography showed left atrial pedunculated mass which was the potential source of embolism. We report a rare case who had such multiple spontaneous tumor emboli large enough to result in clinically detectable cerebral infarction.

A Case Report of a Massive Pulmonary Tumor Embolism after Surgery for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Recent literatures suggest that pulmonary embolus secondary to renal cell cancer may be more common than previously suspected. A 63-year-old man, who suffered a massive tumor embolism to the right main pulmonary artery after surgery for renal cell carcinoma with vena caval and renal vein invasion, was treated by emergency pulmonary embolectomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. Renal cell carcinoma occasionally extends into the inferior vena cava as a tumor thrombus. In such patients, removal of the tumor thrombus from the inferior vena cava has to be performed in addition to radical nephrectomy. However, the massive pulmonary tumor embolism is a major potential hazard during radical surgical resection. To prevent intraoperative pulmonary embolisms, scheduled use of cardiopulmonary bypass with the cooperation of cardiovascular surgeons is recommended in addition to the standard proximal vena caval occlusion technique of clipping and clamping.

Tumor Embolism of Right Heart Diagnosed with Echocardiogram in Patients of Hepatoma with Inferior Vena Cava Thrombus / 대한마취과학회지

Pulmonary thromboembolism is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Many patients dying of pulmonary thromboembolism have serious underlying illness such as cancer and congestive heart failure. Cancer patients are prone to both thrombotic and tumor embolism. In cancer patients, tumor pulmonary embolism and thrombotic pulmonary embolism can be associated with dyspnea, cor pulmonale and pulmonary hypertension. We presented a female patient of 63 year-old age of a hepatoma with inferior vena cava thrombosis. She had been transferred to the intensive care umt in state of refractory hypoxemia with 100% oxygen inhalation. Perfusion scan showed 60.71% defect in right lung and 39.28% defect in left lower lung field. Heparin infusion was done with the impression of pulmoary embolism without effect. Initial hemodynamic data with insertion of pulmonary ery catheter showed that cardiac index, 1.62 L/minute/M2, right atrial pressure, 28 mmHg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure 14 mmHg. Cardiac index did not increase in spite of dobutamine and dopamine infusion. Right atrial pressure increased to 29 mmHg but pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was 11 mmHg with fluid administration. Echocardiogram revealed that mass, 7X8 cm of size, was in right heart in connection to inferior vena cava thrombus. Tumor embolism from hepatoma would be suspected in our patient, but we did not confirm that case with the biopsy or autopsy. Echocardiography with pulmoary artery catheter insertion would be helpful to diagnose the disease which was suspected of pulmonary embolism and tumor embolism in cancer patient.