title: Cardiac metastasis of tongue cancer may cause sudden death.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. itoto@tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Tatsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Negishi
authors.forename: Kazuchika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohno
mesh_terms: 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