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Pulmonary tumor embolism presenting as infarcts on computed tomography
A E Kim1, L B Haramati, D Janus
1Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10467, USA.
Journal of Thoracic Imaging
|April 21, 1999
Summary
Pulmonary tumor embolism, a rare cause of cancer-related respiratory failure, is often missed. CT scans may reveal characteristic opacities, confirmed by autopsy as pulmonary infarction.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pulmonary tumor embolism (PTE) is a rare complication in cancer patients, often leading to respiratory failure.
- Diagnosis during life is infrequent, with chest radiographs typically showing normal findings.
Observation:
- Computed tomography (CT) scans may show dilated and beaded peripheral pulmonary arteries.
- This case presented with unusual bilateral, peripheral, wedge-shaped opacities on CT scans.
Findings:
- The observed CT opacities corresponded to pulmonary infarction upon autopsy.
- This highlights an atypical presentation of pulmonary tumor embolism.
Implications:
- Recognizing these CT findings can aid in the diagnosis of pulmonary tumor embolism.
- This case expands the understanding of imaging manifestations of PTE in cancer patients.