Isolated cardiac metastasis of cervical carcinoma presenting as disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. A case report.

BACKGROUND

An isolated cardiac metastasis from cervical carcinoma is very rare. This report describes the unusual presentation in a patient diagnosed and successfully treated for stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, presenting six months later with disease metastatic to the heart.

CASE: A 44-year-old woman presented with hand swelling and bruising. She had undergone successful surgical treatment of a stage IB squamous cell cervical carcinoma six months previously. Computed tomography revealed a large mass in the right ventricle, confirmed by echocardiography. The patient underwent surgery, where the mass was biopsied and debulked under a cardiopulmonary bypass. Frozen section confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was discharged with follow-up radiation and chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

All women with myocardial abnormalities and a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix should be suspected of developing a myocardial metastasis until proven otherwise.