title: An autopsy case of subacute cor pulmonale due to pulmonary tumor cell emboli in a patient with gastric cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Shizuoka. s-iwakami@excite.co.jp
authors.forename: Shin-ichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwakami
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Haruhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwakami
authors.forename: Kaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimi
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Masakata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: 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*