Malignant melanoma embolus as a cause of acute aortic occlusion: report of a case.

A case of acute aortic occlusion caused by embolization of malignant melanoma tumor fragments is presented. Transfemoral catheter embolectomy restored normal lower extremity circulation. Noncardiac tumor emboli, although rare, originate either from primary pulmonary malignancies or nonpulmonary malignancies with pulmonary metastases and pulmonary vein invasion. Tumor embolization should be considered a possible source of peripheral arterial emboli when there is no other obvious source, such as the fibrillating or infarcted heart. In such cases, early surgical intervention should be considered in preference to therapy with heparin or streptokinase.