An autopsy case of subacute cor pulmonale due to pulmonary tumor cell emboli in a patient with gastric cancer.
A 53-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to a severe respiratory condition and malnutrition. Radiological and electrophysiological findings suggested the existence of inexplicable cor pulmonale. Although we commenced to determine the causes of her severe condition, she suddenly died 3 days after admission. Postmortem autopsy revealed tumor cell microemboli in the small pulmonary arteries due to gastric cancer. Such a case of cor pulmonale as the first clinical manifestation is exceptionally rare. Occult malignancy should be considered as a differential diagnosis when one encounters a patient with subacutely aggravated respiratory condition and inexplicable cor pulmonale.
Iwakami
Shin-ichiro
S
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Shizuoka. s-iwakami@excite.co.jp
Sato
Teruhiko
T
Takagi
Haruhi
H
Fujii
Mitsuhiro
M
Iwakami
Naoko
N
Yoshimi
Kaku
K
Koyama
Ryo
R
Ichikawa
Masako
M
Yoshioka
Masakata
M
Takahashi
Kazuhisa
K
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000473:pathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*