Cardiac metastasis of tongue cancer may cause sudden death.
OBJECTIVE
To identify cardiac metastases in a patient with a squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and to clarify the relationship between cardiac metastases and sudden death.


METHODS
Autopsy and retrospective chart review for a patient.


METHODS
We studied a Japanese patient who suddenly died after the operation and radiation therapy, despite an absence of thanatoid symptoms. We performed a subsequent autopsy.


RESULTS
The patient had four metastatic lesions in the heart, one of which was in the septum and infiltrated the region around the conducting system of the heart.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac metastasis of tongue cancer may cause sudden death.
Ito
Taku
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. itoto@tmd.ac.jp
Ishikawa
Norihiko
N
Negishi
Tatsuro
T
Ohno
Kazuchika
K
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000473:pathology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery