European Journal of Echocardiography Advance Access published online on March 19, 2008
European Journal of Echocardiography, doi:10.1093/ejechocard/jen027
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Cardiac tamponade because of left atrium direct invasion by a large cell neuroendocrine metastatic carcinoma of the lung
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK
* Correspondent author: Tel: +44 247 696 5666; fax: +44 247 696 5657. E-mail address: dlysitsas{at}doctors.org.uk
| Abstract |
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A 53-year-old man presented with cardiac tamponade due to direct invasion of left atrium by a large cell neuroendocrine metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Direct invasion of left atrial cavity by this type of lung tumour is rare. When cardiac involvement is suspected, two-dimensional echocardiography is the first-line diagnostic tool. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can provide additional anatomical information and, as in this case, further delineation of the relation between intracavity masses and normal structures, including the mural site of attachment and tumour extension.
Keywords: Left atrium; Secondary cardiac tumours; Large cell lung cancer; Cardiac tamponade