Metastases to the heart

Anti-PD-1 Therapy-A Potential Treatment for Myocardial Metastasis From Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Case Report

Myocardial metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rarely reported in the literature. Some autopsy studies found metastases in more than 10% of cases with malignant neoplasm. However, patients are often diagnosed during the postmortem because myocardial metastasis is often asymptomatic, and its Cardiac complications tend to be severe and fatal. Patients with Cardiac metastases are often treated with chemotherapy or surgical intervention, although the prognosis is poor. Immunotherapy with anti-programmed cell death receptor-1 or ligand-1 (PD-1 or PD-L1) inhibitors has recently been reported to be therapeutically significant in multiple cancers, including melanoma, nonsmall cell lung cancer, and NPC, but the treatment of myocardial metastasis of NPC has not been reported. This study described the case of a 50-year-old male patient who presented initially with NPC and received radiotherapy as first-line therapy. For 20 years, he had recurrent Cardiac metastasis of NPC. The pathological examination suggested tPD-L1 expression. Therefore, off-label sintilimab (200 mg every 21 days) was administered. After 10 cycles of treatment, myocardial metastasis shrank and the enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes disappeared. This case report demonstrated that Cardiac metastasis of NPC expressing PD-L1 might have a sustained response to PD-L1 inhibitor-directed therapy.

“The Rhythm of Cancer” – Unexpected Autopsy Finding in a Patient with Gastric Ulceration

Malignant tumors of the heart are rare. Even rarer, however, are metastases to the heart from cancers originating from the gastrointestinal tract. This case report involves a 63-year-old patient who presented into the clinic with a gastric ulcer and subsequent haemorrhage, and who died after sudden cardiac arrest. Autopsy revealed a metastatic involvement of the heart muscle from low-grade carcinoma of the stomach, as well as many other organ metastases.

Cardiac Tamponade as the Initial Presentation of Metastatic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Malignancy accounts for approximately 15-20% of moderate to large pericardial effusions. Pulmonary and colon are the most common primary causes. Large pleural effusions tend to present with a less dramatic clinical picture. It is because fluids tend to build up slowly, giving enough time to the pericardial sac to accommodate it until pressure reaches a critical value causing right heart chambers to collapse. In this report, we present the case of a 51-year-old male with cardiac tamponade as the first manifestation of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The patient presented with shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain for one week, with no other associated symptoms. Early workup indicated a cardiac tamponade likely secondary to lung malignancy. Further workup demonstrated that the primary source was an esophageal malignancy. In this setting, pericardial effusions are usually related to radiation/chemotherapy, but in rare cases, cardiac tamponade can be the first manifestation of esophageal cancer.

Systematic Review: Cardiac Metastasis of Lingual Squamous Cell Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Lingual squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is an aggressive malignancy that carries significant mortality risk and the potential for cardiac metastasis. The authors performed a systematic review designed to characterize disease progression of LSCC cardiac metastasis by evaluating patient demographics, characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Two authors independently screened articles in Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews up until December 2019 for study eligibility. Demographic data, patient symptomatology, imaging findings, management strategies, and patient outcomes were obtained and analyzed. The Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (OCEBM) Levels of Evidence categorization was implemented to determine the quality of studies selected in this review.

RESULTS

From this review, a total of 28 studies met inclusion criteria and received an OCEBM Level 4 evidence designation. Thirty-one patients were identified with cardiac metastasis from LSCC. Shortness of breath (29.0%) and chest pain (29.0%) were the most common presenting symptoms, and pericardial effusion (29.2%) and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (25.0%) were the predominant echocardiogram findings. Cardiac metastases most often presented in the right ventricle (56.7%), followed by the left ventricle (43.3%). Palliative intervention (68.2%) or chemotherapy (40.9%) were typically implemented as treatments. All sample patients expired within one year of metastatic cancer diagnosis in cases that reported mortality outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients presenting with shortness of breath, tachycardia, and a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue may indicate evaluation for LSCC cardiac metastasis. Although LSCC cardiac metastases typically favor the right and left ventricles, they are not exclusive to these sites. Palliative care may be indicated as treatment due to high mortality and overall poor outcomes from current interventions.

Right ventricular outflow obstruction with squamous cell carcinoma of unknown origin

A 60-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of chest tightness. CT scans showed no specific findings except a right ventricular (RV) mass. Echocardiogram revealed that the large cardiac mass was compressing the right ventricular outflow tract, and the patient thus underwent an emergency operation. As the tumour on the inlet side of the right ventricle was tightly adhered to the entire tricuspid chordae, a complete resection was impossible. Pathological findings revealed that the tumour was metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. Four cycles of chemotherapy were administered. Further investigations were conducted to identify the primary cancer focus, but there were no specific findings. Eight months after the operation, the patient returned to the hospital. Echocardiogram showed a severely occupying mass once again, and the patient died as a result. Autopsy revealed no findings relating to the primary origin of the cardiac metastases.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with cardiac metastasis on 18F-FDG PET/CT: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

The most common malignancies metastasizing to the heart are cancers of the lung, breast, mesothelioma, melanoma, leukemia, and lymphoma. Cardiac metastasis from a tongue cancer is a rare finding and only a few cases have been reported previously in the literature. In this case report and literature review, we discuss the main clinical features of patients with cardiac metastases secondary to a tongue cancer and imaging modalities performed, especially the 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT).

PATIENT CONCERNS

This is a case of a 39-year-old woman who in April 2018 was diagnosed with an invasive well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the movable tongue. She underwent a left hemiglossectomy followed by a revision of hemiglossectomy and ipsilateral selective neck lymph nodes dissection levels II to III because of pathological margins. An early inoperable clinical recurrence was diagnosed and she received radiochemotherapy with good clinical and metabolic response. She remained asymptomatic thereafter.

DIAGNOSIS

In January 2020, a pre-scheduled 18F-FDG PET/CT showed a diffuse cardiac involvement. In February 2020, a biopsy of the lesion revealed a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.

INTERVENTIONS

She was deemed to not be a cardiac surgical candidate and treated by palliative chemotherapy: taxol-carboplatin associated with cetuximab then cetuximab alone because of adverse effects. A re-evaluation imaging performed in April 2020 evidenced a progression of the cardiac involvement, which led to switch chemotherapy by immunotherapy with nivolumab.

OUTCOMES

This patient had a very poor prognosis and succumbed to major heart failure 4 months after the diagnosis of cardiac metastasis.

CONCLUSION

In this case report, 18F-FDG PET/CT proved to be useful in detecting cardiac metastasis and changed the therapeutic management of the patient. It suggests that patients with tongue malignancies in a context of poor initial prognosis should be followed-up early by 18F-FDG PET/CT with HFLC diet to facilitate detection of recurrence.

Cardiac tamponade due to advanced gastric cancer: case report and review

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Pericardial involvement due to gastric cancer is uncommon, especially when it is secondary to direct tumor infiltration. Its manifestation as cardiac tamponade is an exceptional situation that represents a challenge for the treating medical team.

CASE PRESENTATION

a case of a patient with advanced gastric cancer with cardiopericardial infiltration, complicated with cardiac tamponade is reported. A narrative review of the diagnostic and therapeutic management was performed.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

There are no well-established diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms.

CONCLUSIONS

It is such an exceptional entity that most of the available bibliography is based on case reports or expert opinions. It is a situation with a very bad prognosis.

Efficacy of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in a Patient With Renal Cell Carcinoma Concomitant With Cardiac Metastasis: A Case Report

BACKGROUND/AIM

Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with cardiac metastasis have had poor outcomes in the era of molecular targeted therapy. There are few reported outcomes for patients with cardiac metastasis of RCC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

CASE REPORT

A 32-year-old female presented with metastatic RCC (unclassified type) with contralateral renal and cardiac metastases, as well as renal hilar lymph node metastases (cT4N2M1). An ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET) computed tomographic (CT) scan was useful in diagnosing cardiac metastasis. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab achieved prominent shrinkage of almost all tumors except for one cardiac tumor. FDG-PET/CT scan also revealed the marked attenuation of FDG uptake in each tumor. In addition, a needle biopsy of the remaining primary renal tumor was pathologically observed to have no viable cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

This successful case suggests that ICIs might provide a better outcome even for patients with cardiac metastasis of RCC, and that FDG-PET/CT scan might be useful for therapeutic assessment, as well as diagnosis.

Development and Implementation of an Online Adaptive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Workflow for Treatment of Intracardiac Metastasis

Cardiac metastases pose clinical challenges for radiation oncologists given the need to balance the benefit of local therapy against the risks of cardiac toxicity in the setting of cardiac motion, respiratory motion, and nearby organs at risk. Stereotactic magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiation therapy has recently become more commonly used, conferring benefits in tumor visualization for setup, real-time motion management monitoring, and enabling plan adaptation for daily changes in tumor and/or normal tissues. Given these benefits, we developed and implemented a workflow for local treatment of metastatic disease within the heart using stereotactic magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiation therapy.

Atypical Cardiac Location of Melanoma of Unknown Origin

The subject was a 66-year-old woman, suffering from the chest pain evoked by physical activity. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed an abnormal structure, 41 × 29 mm. In MSCT, a hypodensic mobile tissue lesion that was infiltrating the whole thickness of left ventricle was confirmed. PET excluded the existence of other remote lesions. After surgical tumor removal, histopathological differential diagnosis revealed melanoma, myoepithelial cancer, and MPNST “high–grade” sarcoma. A control TTE detected a tumor that was 14 × 10 mm. After immunohistochemical results, immunotherapy with pembrolizumab was used, which resulted in complete tumor resolution. Presently, surgical resection and neoadjuvant targeted immunochemotherapy remain the treatment of choice for clinical stage III/IV melanoma.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia of the Aortic Valve: A Case Report

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the chronic accumulation of mature B-cell lymphocytes in the bone marrow. CLL accounts for approximately one-quarter of new leukemia cases each year and is the most common leukemia in Western countries. Most notably, this leukemia involves the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver, whereas non-lymphoid tissue is seldom associated with CLL infiltration. A large percentage of patients are asymptomatic at presentation; however, for those who are symptomatic, lymphadenopathy is the most common presenting complaint. This is the case of a 75-year-old Caucasian male with CLL on ibrutinib who presented with chest pressure and worsening shortness of breath. The patient underwent cardiac catheterization, which revealed demonstrable aortic stenosis. His aortic valve was subsequently replaced, and tissue was sent for histochemical analysis. Stains were positive for CD20, BCL2, CD5, and CD23, compatible with the CLL of the valve. To be able to investigate those with a known leukemic disease in patients with valvular disease would be beneficial to clinicians as CLL can present in atypical locations.

A rare case of cardiac metastasis from uterine cervical adenocarcinoma

Metastatic cardiac tumors are rare and are usually from lung, breast, and esophageal cancers. Although uterine cervical cancer is relatively common, its metastasis to the heart is extremely rare. Herein, we report an unusual case of metastatic cervical adenocarcinoma to the heart presenting with a huge right atrial mass and tamponade. The cardiac mass was surgically resected and pathologic study with immunohistochemistry staining confirmed the diagnosis. <Learning objective: Metastatic cardiac tumors are rare. They usually originate from lung, breast, and esophageal cancers and mostly involve the pericardium and myocardium. The endocardium is rarely affected. Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecologic cancers with a relatively favorable prognosis unless it metastasizes to distant organs. Metastases to the heart are rarely reported. The patient may be asymptomatic or present with hemodynamic instability due to tamponade state and/or a huge intracardiac mass.>.

Cardiac metastasizing leiomyoma: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac intracavitary growth of metastasizing tumour is unusual. Benign Metastasizing Leiomyoma (BML) from the uterus to the heart is extremely rare. It affects premenopausal women with a history of uterine leiomyoma.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report a case of a 42-year-old woman who presented three tumours in the right side of the heart, two years after a hysterectomy due to leiomyomatosis. The cardiac tumours were resected and the diagnosis was uterine leiomyoma.

DISCUSSION

The patient developed cardiac failure due to three masses at the right side of the heart. Cardiac involvement in BML is usually asymptomatic and rare. The heart masses were surgically removed and a peri ovarian mass was detected and also removed. Although histologically benign, BML exhibits metastatic qualities.

CONCLUSION

It suggests that BML should be included as a differential diagnosis when a female patient presents an intra cardiac mass and a history of hysterectomy.

Echocardiographic detection of left atrium and left ventricle tumoral invasion via the left upper pulmonary vein, leading to the diagnosis of lung cancer

Left atrial (LA) invasion by lung cancer via hematogenous pathways is relatively uncommon. Herein we report the case of a 68-year-old male without any medical history, in whom lung cancer was diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiographic detection of the LA and left ventricle tumoral invasion via the left upper pulmonary vein. The primary source of tumor was found out by computed tomography.

Cardiac Biventricular Metastasis From Renal Cell Carcinoma

Secondary cardiac tumors are much more common than primary tumors. Cardiac metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are rare and can present many years after the patient has been disease-free. We report the case of a 64-year-old man who had been treated for recurrent metastatic RCC. He presented with shortness of breath, and TEE (transthoracic echocardiography) revealed new biventricular hypertrophy and small-to-moderate circumferential pericardial effusion. Cardiac magnetic resonance demonstrated multiple lesions in both the ventricular walls, highly suspicious for metastasis. A tissue biopsy was obtained, which was inconclusive due to the small sample size. The patient's disease progressively worsened, and, subsequently, he died from cardiac and respiratory failure secondary to the underlying advanced metastatic disease. Cardiac metastasis from RCC is rare and has a wide range of presentations. Metastatic RCC tends to be resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Systemic therapy (immunotherapy, molecularly targeted agents) and surgery may have a role in these patients depending on the extent of disease and sites of involvement.

Cardiogenic shock in cancer

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is increasingly recognized in patients with malignancies, while cancer is independently associated with worse prognosis in CS. A number of conditions may lead to CS in cancer, including acute coronary syndromes, cardiomyopathy, takotsubo syndrome, myocarditis, pulmonary embolism, tamponade, and cardiac herniation. In these conditions, CS may be related to cancer itself or to cancer therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Given the significantly improved overall survival of patients with malignancies, the early recognition and proper management of CS in cancer become increasingly important. In the present paper, we review the available evidence on CS in patients with malignancies and highlight issues related to its management.

Crossing Boundaries: A Rare Case of Cardiac Dysfunction

Cardiac tumors are relatively rare. Secondary cardiac tumors are by far more common than primary cardiac tumors. Cardiac involvement may occur secondary to hematogenous metastases, direct invasion, or tumor growth into the venous system and extension into the right atrium. Patients can present with a spectrum of conditions, including embolization, obstruction of ventricular outflow tracts, direct invasion of myocardium causing impaired myocardial function, invasion of surrounding tissue, interference with valvular function causing valvular regurgitation, or constitutional non-specific signs and symptoms. Imaging modalities are essential for diagnosis. Management is mostly surgical, but can include other medical strategies as well. We present a case of a 65-year-old male with hepatocellular carcinoma with direct invasion to the heart through the venous system.

Cardiac tumors prevalence and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Cardiac tumors and their associated outcomes are poorly characterized. This study sought to comprehensively assess the epidemiology and natural history of primary and secondary malignant cardiac tumors (PMCT and SMCT), a well as establish predictors of mortality.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify articles reporting on PMCTs and SMCTs. The prevalence of important cardiac tumor (CT) subtypes was evaluated and further stratified based on the continental region. Outcomes of interest included short- and long-term mortality and utilization of heart transplantation (HTX). A random effect model was adopted, and a meta-regression was performed to determine predictors of the prevalence of CTs as well as predictors of operative mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 1,226 retrieved articles, 74 were included in our study (n = 8,849 patients). The mean follow-up was 2.27 years, mean age was 42.9 years, and 55% of the patients were females. There was a total number of 7,484 benign primary cardiac tumors (PCTs) (5,140 were myxoma), 862 (9.7%) malignant PCTs, and 355 secondary cardiac tumors. The prevalence of PMCTs among PCTs was 10.83% [95%CI = 09.11; 12.83%] with a trend towards being lower in South America compared to other continents (Prevalence = 5.80%). The prevalence of HTX among all patients was 2.45% [1.36; 4.38%]. The pooled short-term mortality was 5.90% [4.70; 7.39%] and the incidence of late mortality in all CTs, benign CT and PMCTs was 2.55% [1.76; 3.72%], 0.79% [0.46; 1.37%] and 14.77% [9.32; 23.40%], respectively. On meta-regression, the annual volume of cardiac tumor cases per center was the only predictor of lower early mortality (Beta = -0.14 ± 0.03, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

PMCTs represent the minority of PCT (~10%) and have a higher prevalence in Europe and North America. Survival is higher in benign pathology and is significantly improved by treatment in specialized high-volume centers. Approximately 2% of patients with CTs undergo heart transplantation.

Left atrial tumor thrombus with emboli to the brain and distal extremities: A case report

Cardiac metastases are an uncommon phenomenon associated with neoplasms from a variety of primary sites. Pulmonary involvement often accompanies metastases involving the left atrium or ventricle and clinical presentation may be associated with stroke or emboli involving distal sites. We report a patient who presented acutely to the Emergency Department with symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident and bilateral cold pulseless lower extremities. Computerized Tomographic (CT) angiogram of the chest, abdomen, pelvis and lower extremities disclosed pulmonary veins with large filling defects in the right superior and inferior vessels as well as the left atrium and atrial appendage. Mediastinal and hilar adenopathy was detected. The patient had a history of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma eighteen months prior. The patient underwent operative intervention with removal of a large left intra-atrial mass, histologic evaluation of which demonstrated groups of malignant squamous cells meshed in fibrin clot. The patient died three days post operatively due to multiple brain infarctions.

A Case of Ewing Sarcoma Presenting With Cardiac Metastasis

Ewing sarcoma is the second most prevalent primary malignant bone tumor. Metastases from Ewing sarcoma to the heart are very rare. Herein, we present a case of undiagnosed Ewing sarcoma in a 12-year-old boy who presented with metastasis to the left atrium. The mass was prolapsing across the mitral valve. In view of the potential risk of embolization, urgent cardiac surgery was performed before the establishment of a definitive diagnosis. Histopathology was consistent with Ewing sarcoma. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in his left fibula. The patient was referred to the oncology center and received chemotherapy. One year later, he is alive with no evidence of recurrent cardiac involvement.

Tonsillar carcinoma as a rare cause of cardiac metastases

Tonsillar carcinoma metastasis to the myocardium is undermined with detection rate often occurring at autopsy or advance stage. A 60-year-old male with a 1-month history of right-sided facial pain and failed antibiotics therapy underwent head and neck CT scan that revealed a tonsillar mass. Tonsillar biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma, HPV-16 positive. PET-CT scan showed a significant activity in the right tonsillar mass along with prominent right level 2 lymph nodes and no distant disease. Definite surgery was deferred and he underwent 7 weeks of radiation therapy with concurrent weekly Cisplatin. PET scan 8 weeks later showed significant improvement in large right palatine tonsil mass; however, a new FDG-avid cardiac mass of right ventricle. An echocardiogram showed an ejection fraction of 59% and a large mass in the apical portion of the right ventricle. Cardiac MRI confirmed a 9 cm right ventricular mass. Complete resection of the cardiac mass was unsuccessful; a partial tumor debulking provided adequate sample for pathologic examination, which was consistent with metastatic squamous cell cancer, p16+, clinical-stage T4aN1M1. Surgical intervention was not performed; instead, he received a palliative radiation therapy to his right-sided cardiac mass with concurrent Keytruda immunotherapy. Unfortunately, the evening of successfully completing his last therapy, he was found unresponsive and subsequently expired. Although tonsillar carcinoma metastasis to the myocardium is rarely coupled with its atypical presentations, clinicians should consider early echocardiogram evaluation for possible metastatic disease so as to provide early interventions.

Extraosseous Ewing Sarcoma Presenting with Inferior ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Systemic Emboli due to Tumor Thrombus and Invasion of the Left Atrium

Extraosseous Ewing sarcoma is an uncommon entity in the adult population. Cardiac metastases or local invasion of a tumor into the heart is a known but also infrequent occurrence for most malignancies. We present a case of a patient with a history of extraosseous Ewing sarcoma who presented to the emergency room with chest pain and was found to have an inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction and systemic emboli and was found to have recurrence of sarcoma invading the left atrium.

Microenvironment in Cardiac Tumor Development: What Lies Beyond the Event Horizon?

Cardiac tumors are found in less than 1% of adult and pediatric autopsies. More than three-fourths of primary cardiac neoplasms are benign, with myxomas and rhabdomyomas being the most common cardiac tumors seen in adults and children, respectively. Primary malignant cardiac tumors are extremely rare, whereas metastatic lesions can be seen in approximately 8% of patients dying from cancer. Attempting to understand why the heart is so resistant to carcinogenesis and which fail-safe mechanisms malfunction when cardiac tumors do develop is particularly challenging considering the rarity of these tumors and the fact that when relevant clinical studies are published, they rarely focus on molecular pathogenesis. Apart from cancer cells, solid tumors are comprised of a concoction of noncancerous cells, and extracellular matrix constituents, which along with pH and oxygen levels jointly constitute the so-called tumor microenvironment (TME). In the present chapter, we explore mechanisms through which TME may influence cardiac carcinogenesis.

Non-Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia as a Sign of Lung Cancer

The leading cause of death due to malignancy in the USA is lung cancers. They can be divided into small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Of the latter, adenocarcinoma comprises the majority of lung cancers. Manifestations of lung cancer can be divided into thoracic, extra-thoracic and paraneoplastic syndromes. We describe a case of ventricular tachycardia in a patient who presented with dysphagia, ultimately found to have a non-small cell lung cancer invading the esophagus and heart.

A right atrium metastasis of breast cancer after long-term endocrine therapy

We report a case of right atrial metastasis in a 66-year-old female patient with breast cancer. The patient presented with palpitation and dyspnea after long-term endocrine therapy. A large echo-dense mass was found in the right atrium after the examination. In order to relieve the symptoms, the patient underwent a resection of the atrial lesion, and the pathology confirmed that it was metastatic breast cancer. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the entire exon was taken to explore the gene expression of the metastatic lesion. Forty-eighty genes were identified with mutations, and the mutations of ATM and ESR1 were considered to be associated with the development and metastasis of breast cancer in this case.

[Metastatic lesion of the right atrium with renal cell carcinoma]

Tumors in the heart are rare and difficult to diagnose pathologies. There are primary and secondary tumors, the letter tumors include metastases of other tumors. In this work is presented clinical case of metastatic lesion of the right atrium with renal cell carcinoma. Modern methods of diagnostics of patients with intracardiac formations are discussed.

Multimodality Imaging in the Evaluation of Intracardiac Masses

Intracardiac masses are classified as neoplastic or non-neoplastic. Prognosis varies based on the diagnosis of the mass since treatment options differ greatly. As novel imaging techniques emerge, a multimodality approach to the evaluation of intracardiac masses becomes an important part of non-invasive evaluation prior to potential surgical planning or oncological treatment. The purpose of this article is to compare the available imaging modalities-echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance, cardiac computed tomography, nuclear imaging, and emerging novel hybrid imaging techniques for future clinical applications-and to review the characteristic features seen on those modalities for the most common intracardiac masses.

Approach to Surgery for Cardiac Tumors: Primary Simple, Primary Complex, and Secondary

Cardiac tumors are rare. Most surgeons will encounter few primary cardiac tumors outside of myxomas. This article offers the authors' approach to simple and complex primary and secondary cardiac tumors. Symptoms of primary cardiac tumors are primarily determined by tumor size and anatomic location. Most simple primary tumors and some complex primary tumors are best managed by surgical resection. Secondary tumors are 30 times more frequent than primary cardiac tumors. Surgical resection of secondary tumors is rational in a few highly selected patients. For complex primary and secondary tumors, the authors recommend referral to an experienced multidisciplinary cardiac tumor team.

De-Differentiated Myxofibrosarcoma Metastasis in the Right Atrium: An Invasive But Diagnostic Approach

Solitary cardiac metastasis remains an uncommon diagnosis. Herein, the authors report describes a rare case of a 53-year-old woman with cardiac metastasis of a peripheral de-differentiated myxofibrosarcoma. This case demonstrates the complexity of pairing multimodality imaging and invasive techniques to achieve tissue characterization and diagnosis. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

Extensive cardiac infiltrative melanoma

We report an unusual clinical case of a 66-year-old patient with cardiac involvement from a metastatic melanoma, causing the formation of a large right atrial mass with extensive infiltration of the right atrial free wall, the interatrial septum, the coronary sinus, and up to the mitral annulus and posterior wall of the right ventricle, unamendable to complete surgical excision. As secondary cardiac tumors are not part of routine daily clinical practice, we thought that this clinical case would be a good educational opportunity for the practicing clinicians, both specialists and nonspecialists.

Left-Sided Intracardiac Tumors in a Case of Widespread Vulvar Cancer

Metastatic cardiac tumors associated with gynecological malignancies are rare. This report describes the case of stage-4 vulvar carcinoma that metastasized to the left ventricle of the heart. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

Remission of a Perimyocardial Melanoma Metastasis With Pembrolizumab Treatment

Malignant melanoma demonstrates the highest rate of cardiac metastases. The incidence of melanoma is rising. The prognosis of people with advanced melanoma is generally poor. This case report emphasizes the potential need for early detection of cardiac involvement in advanced melanoma in view of promising advances in treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)

Cardiac Tamponade as an Initial Manifestation of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy worldwide in women and the third most common cause of cancer death in developing countries. This type of cancer spreads mainly to the lung, the bone, and the brain; however, the pericardium is an unusual site of invasion, which is associated with a poor prognosis. We present a case of a 35-year-old woman with six months of leg edema and abnormal uterine bleeding. During the initial evaluation, cardiac tamponade and a bilateral pleural effusion were found. A left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy was identified on physical examination, while gynecological examination and MRI were irrelevant. Initial cytology of the pericardial fluid showed a poorly differentiated carcinoma, and a cervical biopsy revealed a squamous cell invasive carcinoma. Chemotherapy was started with carboplatin and paclitaxel, but no clinical improvement was noted and the patient died 46 days after arrival. Cardiac tamponade in a young female patient is a harbinger to widen the differential diagnosis to include not only infectious, cardiac, or metabolic etiology but also oncological causes since this will allow appropriate treatment.

Right Heart Mass in Transit with a Hemorrhagic Pericardial Effusion: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Metastatic disease to the heart is more often a post-mortem diagnosis due to non-specific symptoms and a low index of suspicion. Our case is a unique presentation of a rare case of cardiac metastasis from oropharyngeal cancer, which eluded echocardiographic diagnosis despite the presence of a hemorrhagic pericardial effusion. The cardiac metastasis, in fact, starts as pericardial seeding, as illustrated by the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The pericardial metastatic disease then becomes rapidly invasive into the cardiac chambers, hence presenting as a large mass on the echocardiogram and computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest. This is the first such case of pericardial metastasis from a squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue being reported and highlights the importance of an aggressive multimodality diagnostic approach in cases where such a clinical suspicion exists. While a two-dimensional (2D) echocardiogram is the most readily available modality, we recommend that this is complemented by the use of a three-dimensional (3D) echocardiogram, as well as metabolic and radiologic imaging with PET and CT scans.

Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease mammary tumor growth, multiorgan metastasis and enhance survival

Epidemiological studies show a reduced risk of breast cancer (BC) in women consuming high levels of long-chain (LC) omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids (FAs) compared with women who consumed low levels. However, the regulatory and mechanistic roles of dietary ω-6 and LC-ω-3 FAs on tumor progression, metastasis and survival are poorly understood. Female BALB/c mice (10-week old) were pair-fed with a diet containing ω-3 or an isocaloric, isolipidic ω-6 diet for 16 weeks prior to the orthotopic implantation of 4T1 mammary tumor cells. Major outcomes studied included: mammary tumor growth, survival analysis, and metastases analyses in multiple organs including pulmonary, hepatic, bone, cardiac, renal, ovarian, and contralateral MG (CMG). The dietary regulation of the tumor microenvironment was evaluated in mice autopsied on day-35 post tumor injection. In mice fed the ω-3 containing diet, there was a significant delay in tumor initiation and prolonged survival relative to the ω-6 diet-fed group. The tumor size on day 35 post tumor injection in the ω-3 group was 50% smaller and the frequencies of pulmonary and bone metastases were significantly lower relative to the ω-6 group. Similarly, the incidence/frequencies and/or size of cardiac, renal, ovarian metastases were significantly lower in mice fed the ω-3 diet. The analyses of the tumor microenvironment showed that tumors in the ω-3 group had significantly lower numbers of proliferating tumor cells (Ki67⁺)/high power field (HPF), and higher numbers of apoptotic tumor cells (TUNEL⁺)/HPF, lower neo-vascularization (CD31⁺ vessels/HPF), infiltration by neutrophil elastase⁺ cells, and macrophages (F4/80⁺) relative to the tumors from the ω-6 group. Further, in tumors from the ω-3 diet-fed mice, T-cell infiltration was 102% higher resulting in a neutrophil to T-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) that was 76% lower (p < 0.05). Direct correlations were observed between NLR with tumor size and T-cell infiltration with the number of apoptotic tumor cells. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that tumor IL10 mRNA levels were significantly higher (six-fold) in the tumors from mice fed the ω-3 diet and inversely correlated with the tumor size. Our data suggest that dietary LC-ω-3FAs modulates the mammary tumor microenvironment slowing tumor growth, and reducing metastases to both common and less preferential organs resulting in prolonged survival. The surrogate analyses undertaken support a mechanism of action by dietary LC-ω-3FAs that includes, but is not limited to decreased infiltration by myeloid cells (neutrophils and macrophages), an increase in CD3⁺ lymphocyte infiltration and IL10 associated anti-inflammatory activity.

Functional Mitral Stenosis: Imposture of Primary Cardiac Intimal Sarcoma

Cardiac intimal sarcomas are extremely rare, remarkably aggressive and least reported type of primary malignant tumors of the heart. Cardiac intimal sarcomas are encountered more commonly in the large arterial blood vessels including pulmonary artery and aorta, and are extremely rare in the heart. The mainstay of treatment is achievement of tumor-free margins with surgical resection, which is associated with improved survival. Here, we report a 66-year-old female with primary cardiac intimal sarcoma presented with functional mitral stenosis and heart failure. This case report emphasizes common presentation of a rare disease, and the significance of early diagnosis and timely intervention.

Surgery for Tumors of the Heart

Most surgeons will encounter only a handful of primary cardiac tumors outside of myxomas. Approximately 3 quarters of primary cardiac tumors are benign and 1 quarter is malignant. In most cases, cardiac tumors are silent but when symptoms do occur, they are primarily determined by tumor size and anatomical location, not by histopathology. The diagnosis and preoperative imaging relies heavily on multimodal imaging including echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and coronary angiography. Surgical resection is the most common treatment for most simple primary cardiac tumors and for some complex benign tumors. Surgical resection of primary cardiac tumors frequently involves the need for complex cardiac reconstruction, particularly when malignant. Secondary tumors to the heart are 30 times more frequent than primary cardiac tumors, and their incidence is increasing, largely as a result of advances in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Surgical resection is feasible in only a small fraction of highly-selected patients with secondary tumors to the heart. For complex benign tumors-such as paraganglioma or large fibromas-and all primary and secondary malignant tumors, a multidisciplinary cardiac tumor team review in experienced centers of excellence is recommended.

Asymptomatic Cardiac Metastasis in a Diagnosed Case of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Middle Third of Esophagus

A lady walks in with complaints of dysphagia mostly to solids to begin with and gradually progressive to liquids requiring naso-gastric tube feeding, with history of vomiting after taking food and weight loss of 20kilograms over 2months. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed an ulceroproliferative growth starting at 28cms from the central incisor and extending upto 36 cms with luminal compromise. Biopsy from the lesion was found to be moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. As part of metastatic work-up a PET-CT (Figure 1 shows lesion in the left ventricle) was done which revealed a metabolically active lesion involving the lower third of esophagus and a metabolically active lesion in the wall of the left ventricle which was the only site of metastatic diseae(Figure 2. Maximum intensity projection). Further investigations were done for characterisation of the cardiac lesion. 2-D Echo cardiography was done and was normal with an ejection fraction of 60%. A cardiac MRI was done which showed a soft tissue mass in the wall of the left ventricle which was isointense with normal myocardium and hyperintense on double inversion recovery sequence which measured 3.2 x 3 cms with post contrast enhancement. She was planned for palliative radiotherapy. A total dose of 30Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks was delivered. She tolerated the treatment well with Grade I mucositis (as per RTOG grading) and on follow-up after 4 weeks she had 40% relief in dysphagia and could take semi-solid food with little difficulty.

Huge right ventricular mass revealing a testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumor

Background

Cardiac intracavitary metastases from a testicular cancer are very unusual, and intra-cardiac metastasis is exceptionally the first expression of a noncardiac primary neoplasm. We report a case of a young patient for whom a cardiac symptom led to the diagnosis of a metastatic testicular cancer.

Case presentation

Our presentation describes an unusual case of a 32 years-old male patient admitted for dyspnea, in whom full examination and tests led to the diagnosis of a huge right ventricular mass revealing a testicular malignant teratoma. As the mass was huge and obstructing the root of pulmonary artery, we had decided to opt for surgical treatment in order to remove the obstruction of the pulmonary trunk. Subsequently, the patient has received systemic adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Here, we describe the world's first reported case of intraventricular metastasis from a nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis which occupies almost all the right ventricular volume and extending to the root of pulmonary artery that underwent surgical resection of the ventricular mass before chemotherapy.