Secondary carcinoma involving the left atrium.
Although involvement of the heart by metastatic cancer is not uncommon, it is particularly unusual for such tumors to involve the endocardial surface and obstruct blood flow. In the patient described, a large cell, undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung migrated down the pulmonary vein into the left atrium. The clinical picture was consistent with the intermittent ball-valve effect seen with atrial myxomas. The frequency and clinical effects of secondary carcinomas involving the endocardial surface are discussed.
D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000556:secondary*; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size