Recurrence of cervical carcinoma manifesting as cardiac metastasis three years after curative resection

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cardiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Uterine cervical carcinoma is a common gynecologic malignancy.
• Cardiac metastasis is an infrequent complication of various cancers.
• Late recurrence after curative treatment necessitates ongoing surveillance.

Observation:

• A 58-year-old woman with a history of stage IB1 cervical carcinoma presented with pulmonary emboli, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and right heart failure.
• Imaging revealed large tumors in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery, with no evidence of pelvic or abdominal recurrence.
• Surgical tumor removal provided temporary symptomatic improvement.

Findings:

• The patient experienced a recurrence of the right ventricular tumor four months post-surgery.
• Death occurred due to progressive heart failure secondary to tumor recurrence.
• Histopathological confirmation of cardiac metastasis from the original cervical carcinoma.

Implications:

• This case underscores the potential for late cardiac metastasis from cervical cancer.
• Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for cardiac involvement in patients with a history of cervical cancer presenting with cardiopulmonary symptoms.
• Further research into the mechanisms and optimal management of rare metastatic patterns is warranted.