Isolated cardiac metastasis of cervical carcinoma presenting as disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. A case report.
BACKGROUND
An isolated cardiac metastasis from cervical carcinoma is very rare. This report describes the unusual presentation in a patient diagnosed and successfully treated for stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, presenting six months later with disease metastatic to the heart.


METHODS
A 44-year-old woman presented with hand swelling and bruising. She had undergone successful surgical treatment of a stage IB squamous cell cervical carcinoma six months previously. Computed tomography revealed a large mass in the right ventricle, confirmed by echocardiography. The patient underwent surgery, where the mass was biopsied and debulked under a cardiopulmonary bypass. Frozen section confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was discharged with follow-up radiation and chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
All women with myocardial abnormalities and a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix should be suspected of developing a myocardial metastasis until proven otherwise.
Harvey
R L
RL
Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson, USA.
Mychaskiw
G
G
Sachdev
V
V
Heath
B J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*