Renal Cell Carcinoma With Cardiac Metastases

A case of surgical treatment for recurrence of right ventricular metastasis due to renal cell carcinoma after molecular targeted therapy

BACKGROUND

Cardiac metastasis including the right ventricle from renal cell carcinoma is rare. No standard treatment for cardiac metastasis and recurrence in renal cell carcinoma has been established.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a 61-year-old man who underwent the resection of recurrent right ventricular metastasis caused by renal cell carcinoma following molecular targeted therapy. The first cardiac operation was performed for right ventricular metastasis due to renal cell carcinoma. The patient had a good postoperative course. Two years after the first operation, however, follow-up computed tomography revealed the recurrence of the right ventricular tumor and metastases in both lungs. Molecular targeted therapy was carried out and effectively controlled the lung metastasis but the right ventricular lesion remained unchanged, leading to reoperation. The recurrent right ventricular tumor was completely resected through a redo median sternotomy assisted by cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on the 13th postoperative day. Follow-ups at 2 years showed no cardiac recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Surgical intervention was considered useful in managing the recurrence of right ventricular metastasis from renal cell carcinoma after molecular targeted therapy.

Cardiac metastasis from small cell lung cancer origin: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Cardiac metastasis from small cell lung cancer (SCLC) origin is rare, whereas the incidence is anticipated to increase with the extended survival rates.

CASE

We here describe a case report of a 48-year-old male patient diagnosis with SCLC in 2020. In June 2021, he resorted to hospital due to shortness of breath, no obvious changes were found in repeated echocardiography, electrocardiogram and chest computer tomography from June 2021 to September 2021. Due to the persistence of the complaints, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was performed in September 30th, 2021, which showed a mass in the right atrioventricular groove. The patient underwent pericardiocentesis and small cell carcinoma cells were found in the pericardial effusion, confirming the diagnosis of cardiac metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a history of SCLC who develop new cardiac symptoms of unknown etiology should undergo imaging studies such as CMR. The importance of CMR for patients with SCLC is highlighted. The literature regarding metastatic cardiac tumors is reviewed.