Pulmonary embolism in a patient with primary renal synovial sarcoma: the important differential diagnosis of tumor embolism and its therapeutic implications

Case Rep Oncol. 2013 Jun 22;6(2):331-8. doi: 10.1159/000353409. Print 2013 May.

Abstract

Pulmonary tumor embolism rarely occurs in epithelial-derived tumors, but it has been described in different tumor entities. Microscopic pulmonary tumor embolisms are often only discovered on autopsy. Pulmonary thromboembolism, on the other hand, is a frequent complication in cancer patients, and surgery in patients with a malignant tumor is an additional risk factor. The differential diagnosis between pulmonary thromboembolism and pulmonary tumor embolism can be challenging. In this case report, we describe the rare case of a patient with primary renal synovial sarcoma and the workup for a thrombus in the left pulmonary artery.

Keywords: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration; Primary renal synovial sarcoma; Sarcoma; Thromboembolism; Tumor embolism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports