title: Metastatic colon cancer involving the right atrium.
abstract: Colorectal cancer rarely metastasizes to the heart. In the world medical literature, we identified only 7 cases of well-documented colorectal cancer metastasis to the right atrium. Herein, we describe the case of a 72-year-old man in whom metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon involved the right atrium and caused superior vena cava syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of sudden cardiac death due to embolization of metastatic colon cancer from the right atrium. We also present the first comprehensive case series review of this rare entity.Given improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic methods that have increased the longevity of many cancer patients, the detection of cardiac metastases is likely to increase in frequency. Accordingly, we recommend that previously asymptomatic cancer patients with a history of colorectal cancer who develop cardiac symptoms undergo prompt investigation for possible cardiac metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, New York 10075, USA.
authors.forename: Snehalkumar A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Herfel
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000209:etiology