Intracardiac metastases from neuroendocrine tumours.
We report three cases of intra-cardiac metastases from neuroendocrine tumours of the carcinoid type. One presented in a manner identical to a left atrial myxoma; in one patient a left atrial mass was noted during investigations for weight loss and a lung mass; and in the third, two right ventricular deposits were detected on echocardiography when a patient with a disseminated GHRH-secreting tumour was investigated for dyspnoea. Although to our knowledge this is only the third report of these lesions, we believe that this represents a form of carcinoid heart disease that is distinct from the valvular abnormalities seen in some patients with carcinoid syndrome. Neuroendocrine metastases should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intra-cardiac tumours.
Drake
W M
WM
Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
Jenkins
P J
PJ
Phillips
R R
RR
Lowe
D G
DG
Grossman
A B
AB
Besser
G M
GM
Wass
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000556:secondary*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged