Abstract
Background
Cardiac metastases in hepatocellular carcinoma patients are infrequently encountered and usually associated with a very poor prognosis.
Case presentation
Hereby, we report a case of an acute pulmonary embolism (PE) on top of HCC with direct cardiac invasion to the right atrium (RA) through the inferior vena cava with another metastasis to the right ventricular apex in the form of highly mobile cauliflower mass protruding through the tricuspid valve into RA and nearly obliterating right ventricular outflow tract in a multi-centric hepatocellular carcinoma patient.
Conclusion
Acute dyspnea in a patient with a long history of hepatitis C virus infection raises the suspicion of acute PE due to either hypercoagulable state induced by malignancy or by cardiac extension of the tumor which usually carries high mortality rates. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first case in the literature to show cardiac metastases in HCC with two different pathological mechanisms.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43044-021-00193-2.
Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, Pulmonary embolism, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Echocardiography
Background
Cardiac complications of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are quite rare. Right atrial invasion with right ventricular outflow obstruction and Budd Chiari syndrome was previously reported while cardiac metastases in HCC patients are rarely encountered and mostly are associated with high mortality.
Case presentation
A 72-year-old male patient with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) for 20 years yet did not receive any treatment. He was admitted to our medical facility for resolved hepatic encephalopathy, decompensated liver failure, and acute renal failure due to hepatorenal syndrome type I. Suddenly while admitted, he started to complain of acute onset of acute chest pain, severe dyspnea, and tachycardia. On clinical examination, he was distressed with a deep icteric tinge, tachypneic with a thready pulse, massive ascites, and bilateral lower limb pitting edema. His vital signs showed a heart rate of 120 bpm, blood pressure of 90/60, temperature of 36.5 °C, respiratory rate of 30, O2 saturation of 92% on 2 L nasal cannula. There was a loud S2 on cardiac auscultation, but the rest of his physical exam was unremarkable. Electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed sinus tachycardia and s1q3t3 pattern. Urgent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was done revealing a large solid mass extending through the inferior vena cava (IVC) to the right atrium (RA) with another highly mobile cauliflower mass at the right ventricular (RV) apex occupying the RV cavity, protruding into RA through TV and nearly obliterating RV outflow tract into the pulmonary artery (Fig.1, video 1). Ultrasound abdomen confirmed the presence of multi-centric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with direct invasion to the IVC therefore, he was diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) due to tumor thrombus metastasis of HCC to the heart. Due to patient frailty, hazards of dye in an already renally impaired patient after patient and cardiothoracic surgery counseling, no further computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) or triphasic CT of the abdomen were done. Only conservative supportive measures were initiated to stabilize the deteriorated general condition but regretfully, he passed away shortly after diagnosis.
Fig. 1.
a–d Transthoracic Echocardiography revealing a large solid mass extending through IVC to RA with another highly mobile cauliflower mass at the RV apex occupying The RV cavity, protruding into RA through TV and nearly obliterating RVOT into the pulmonary artery
Discussion
Involvement of the heart in HCC is rarely encountered and usually develops in advanced stages of HCC [1]. Previously reported cardiopulmonary complications of HCC included right-sided heart failure, tricuspid stenosis or insufficiency, RVOT obstruction, acute PE, and sometimes sudden cardiac death [2]. Direct tumor thrombus extension through hepatic veins and IVC is the main mechanism of metastasis to the heart [1]. Acute pulmonary embolism in the setting of HCC is a far infrequent manifestation of HCC that usually occurs due to tumor thrombi in the IVC, RA, and R V [3]. Cardiac surgery and urgent thrombectomy have been proposed in selected patients with a satisfactory general condition [3]. Unfortunately, intracardiac involvement in HCC carries a very poor prognosis with a mean survival of 1 to 4 months at the time of diagnosis [2].
To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first case in the literature to demonstrate cardiac metastases to several cardiac chambers, to RA by direct extension through IVC as well as the RV mostly by hematogenous spread.
Conclusion
Acute dyspnea in a patient with HCC raises the suspicion of acute PE induced by either a hypercoagulable state in malignancy or by tumor thrombus through malignant cardiac extension.
Supplementary Information
Additional file 1: Video 1. Transthoracic Echocardiography revealing a large solid mass extending through IVC to RA with another highly mobile cauliflower mass at the RV apex occupying The RV cavity, protruding into RA through TV and nearly obliterating RVOT into the pulmonary artery.
Acknowledgements
Not applicable.
Abbreviations
- HCC
Hepatocellular carcinoma
- PE
Pulmonary embolism
- RA
Right atrium
- HCV
Hepatitis C virus
- ECG
Electrocardiogram
- TTE
Transthoracic echocardiography
- IVC
Inferior vena cava
- RV
Right ventricle
- CTPA
Computed tomography pulmonary angiography
Authors’ contributions
MA, YS, AA, ÖT, HA, and SA shared in a collection of the data and writing the case, and all approved the submission.
Funding
No funding was received.
Availability of data and materials
The data is available for sharing
Declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
The corresponding author had a written consent of the patient to use the data for publication.
Competing interests
All the authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Footnotes
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References
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Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Supplementary Materials
Additional file 1: Video 1. Transthoracic Echocardiography revealing a large solid mass extending through IVC to RA with another highly mobile cauliflower mass at the RV apex occupying The RV cavity, protruding into RA through TV and nearly obliterating RVOT into the pulmonary artery.
Data Availability Statement
The data is available for sharing