Echocardiographic imaging of tricuspid and pulmonary valve abnormalities in primary ovarian carcinoid tumor

Cardiovasc Ultrasound. 2010 Sep 2:8:37. doi: 10.1186/1476-7120-8-37.

Abstract

Carcinoid is a rare malignancy originating from enterochromaffin cells and is clinically characterized by flushing, diarrhea and bronchospasm, due to secretion of vasoactive substances. A dreaded complication is carcinoid heart disease, which mainly affects right cardiac chambers, resulting in thickened, immobile and retracted tricuspid and pulmonary valves. In the current report, a case of a 60-year old female presenting with symptoms of right heart failure is described. Transthoracic two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography findings, as well as biochemical markers, including pro-BNP and NT-pro-BNP, were consistent with carcinoid syndrome. The histological diagnosis of carcinoid was confirmed after surgical resection of an ovarian mass.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoid Tumor / secondary*
  • Carcinoid Tumor / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Female
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / surgery
  • Ovariectomy
  • Pulmonary Valve
  • Tricuspid Valve
  • Video Recording