title: Unusual manifestations of disseminated neoplasia at presentation: right-sided heart failure due to a massive cardiac metastasis and autoimmune thrombocytopenia in pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma of the adult.
abstract: Although it is recognized that aggressive soft tissue sarcomas may give rise to cardiac metastases, these manifestations are usually late and clinically silent, being the prevailing finding in exceptional cases. This report describes the occurrence of a massive cardiac metastasis at diagnosis of leg rhabdomyosarcoma in a middle-age adult. This manifestation was the cause of rapidly progressive congestive heart failure and, together with the unusual occurrence of autoimmune thrombocytopenia, led to difficult patient care with a significantly negative influence on the outcome.
authors.affiliation: Section of Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo-University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Semino
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danova
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perlini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palladini
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riccardi
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perfetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*