D Giuffrida1, H Gharib. 1. Division of Medical Oncology, Ospedale San Luigi, Az. Osp. 'Garibaldi', Catania, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Clinically evident cardiac metastases from malignant neoplasms are uncommon. The frequency of thyroid metastasis to the heart is very low. To our knowledge, over the last 20 years only a few cases have been reported in the entire literature. Metastatic cardiac involvement occurs most often during the terminal stage. PATIENTS: We present three cases of anaplastic thyroid cancer with metastatic involvement of the heart. RESULTS: Two of the patients died from cardiac problems. The absence of early symptoms makes the clinical diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma difficult. CONCLUSIONS: Anaplastic thyroid cancer is an aggressive cancer with a dismal prognosis. It should be borne in mind as a source of cardiac metastasis and a cause of cardiac death.
BACKGROUND: Clinically evident cardiac metastases from malignant neoplasms are uncommon. The frequency of thyroid metastasis to the heart is very low. To our knowledge, over the last 20 years only a few cases have been reported in the entire literature. Metastatic cardiac involvement occurs most often during the terminal stage. PATIENTS: We present three cases of anaplastic thyroid cancer with metastatic involvement of the heart. RESULTS: Two of the patients died from cardiac problems. The absence of early symptoms makes the clinical diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma difficult. CONCLUSIONS:Anaplastic thyroid cancer is an aggressive cancer with a dismal prognosis. It should be borne in mind as a source of cardiac metastasis and a cause of cardiac death.
Authors: V Pazzano; M L Narducci; P Santangeli; D Pedicino; F Glieca; C A Rota; M Novello; A Pontecorvi; L Lauriola; F Crea Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 4.256