Pulmonary tumor embolism to alveolar septal capillaries. An unusual cause of sudden cor pulmonale.
Although metastatic spread of tumor to the lungs is common, subsequent production of cor pulmonale is not. The involvement of pulmonary alveolar capillaries causing sudden cor pulmonale is very rare. We describe a patient who presented with chest pain and sudden shortness of breath. Autopsy disclosed diffuse pulmonary microembolism to septal capillaries caused by tumor cells from a squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. To our knowledge, this is the second report of this kind of pulmonary tumor embolism.
Soares
F A
FA
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Landell
G A
GA
de Oliveira
J A
JA
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000098:blood supply*; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications