Stalactites in the Right Ventricle

J Cardiovasc Echogr. 2023 Oct-Dec;33(4):199-201. doi: 10.4103/jcecho.jcecho_46_23. Epub 2024 Feb 26.

Abstract

Heart metastatic tumors are more frequent than primary heart tumors. Cardiac metastasis is a rare phenomenon, occurring mainly by direct spread, especially from lung cancer. Cardiac metastases may be asymptomatic or cause arrhythmias, nonspecific electrocardiographic alterations, or mimic a myocardial infarction. In this case report, we illustrate a rare case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, which through the bloodstream developed a stalactite-shaped metastasis within the right ventricle of conspicuous size (20 mm × 34 mm × 12 mm). In addition, the tumor compressed the right pulmonary trunk, causing pulmonary hypertension. It is essential to characterize metastasis with multimodality imaging. Such lesions within the right cavities can cause massive pulmonary embolism, as in our case, leading to the patient's death, thrombolytic therapy not being effective.

Keywords: Heart cancer; lung adenocarcinoma; multimodality imaging; pulmonary hypertension; ventricular mass.

Publication types

  • Case Reports