J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2010 Dec;18(4):148-150. 10.4250/jcu.2010.18.4.148.

Spontaneous Systemic Tumor Embolism Caused by Tumor Invasion of Pulmonary Vein in a Patient with Advanced Lung Cancer

• Park JH
• Seo HS
• Park SK
• Suh J
• Kim DH
• Cho YH
• Lee NH

• KMID: 2177317
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2010.18.4.148

Abstract

We describe a 72-year-old man who presented with left hemiparesis due to acute cerebral infarction in the right fronto-temporal lobe. Three months prior to admission, he was hospitalized for right hemiparesis due to the acute cerebral infarction in the left anterior cerebral artery territory. To investigate the cause of his recurrent embolic event, a chest computed tomography scan and echocardiography were performed, which revealed advanced lung cancer invading contiguously through the pulmonary veins to the right main pulmonary artery and left atrium. Tumor embolism is a rare cause of stroke, occurring with primary or metastatic neoplasms of the lung. Echocardiography is a useful tool in patients with cerebral embolic episodes.

Keyword

Tumor embolism; Stroke; Lung cancer

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anterior Cerebral Artery
Cerebral Infarction
Echocardiography
Heart Atria
Humans
Lung
Lung Neoplasms
Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
Paresis
Pulmonary Artery
Pulmonary Veins
Stroke
Thorax

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Acute cerebral infarction is seen in the right fronto-temporal lobe (arrow) and the old one in left medial-frontal lobe (arrowhead).

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  Fig. 2 Echocardiogram shows a large intracavitary globular and linear mass, occupying most of the left atrium (LA) cavity. The mass originated from the pulmonary vein (arrow), directly invaded through the pericardium and into the LA. LV: left ventricle, RA: right atrium, PV: pulmonary vein.

• 

  Fig. 3 A huge lung mass of 6.0 cm by 4.5 cm size (arrow) in the right lower lung zone that invaded into the right main pulmonary artery, right pulmonary venous trunk and left atrium is seen.

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