Superior Vena Cava as Gateway to Heart: Metastatic Breast Carcinoma Causing Ball in a Loop Metastasis to Right Atrium.

Breast carcinoma is the most common invasive cancer in women worldwide. It metastasizes commonly to bone, lungs, regional lymph nodes and brain. Cardiac metastasis of lung and breast cancers is a known but rare complication of advanced disease with tumour metastasising to pericardium via the locoregional lymphatic system. Here we present a case of 59-year-old female presenting with right upper limb oedema, facial puffiness and features of Superior Vena Cava (SVC) syndrome 15 years after mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy for carcinoma of the right breast. Further evaluation revealed extensive thrombus invading the right internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, SVC with intraluminal extension into right atrium causing ball in a loop obstruction at tricuspid valve. Whole body Positron emission tomography scan confirmed the diagnosis of extensive metastatic disease and patient was managed on palliative therapy. Haematogenous spread and intraluminal growth of metastatic deposits from breast carcinoma 15 years ago is rare and clinical presentation as SVC obstruction has not been reported in our review of literature.

Leriche Syndrome: Acute Onset Painful Paraplegia of Vascular Origin with Catastrophic Consequences.

Acute Aorto-Iliac Occlusive Disease (AIOD) is a rare clinical entity which when presents with buttock claudication, erectile dysfunction and absent femoral pulses is termed as Leriche syndrome. A 59-year-old male patient with past history of smoking and dyslipidaemia presented with acute onset lower back pain, paraplegia, intense lower limb pain and was initially evaluated for compressive myelopathy. On further clinical examination there were absent femoral pulses and Computed Tomography (CT) aortogram was done which confirmed the diagnosis of diffuse AIOD. Clinically, it is often challenging to differentiate between vascular or neurogenic origin of acute onset painful paraplegia. A high index of suspicion and careful clinical examination is therefore essential to avoid misdiagnosis of a major vascular event which can result in significant morbidity and mortality.

Severe Left Ventricular Endomyocardial Fibrosis Presenting as Biventricular Failure in a Young Adult: A Case Report.

Endomyocardial Fibrosis (EMF) is a form of progressive restrictive cardiomyopathy of unclear aetiology prevalent in areas within 150 of equator including coastal areas of Kerala a few decades back. It inflicts young adults and carries a poor prognosis due to limited options for treatment. Fortunately, the incidence of cases is now declining due to improvement in health and hygiene standards. Here, we review the aetiology and pathogenesis of EMF and report a case of a young male from Mumbai (non-endemic area) presenting with progressively worsening breathlessness and signs of heart failure unresponsive to conventional medical treatment. To delineate the extent of the disease transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was done which revealed infiltrative lesions in left ventricular apex with grade 2/3 mitral regurgitation. Due to progressive and severe nature of the disease the patient was managed conservatively. Through this report we would like to rekindle the interest of reader in a forgotten tropical disease which is considered rare in this geographical area but should not be missed as a cause heart failure considering its significant mortality.