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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Intratumoral Injection of Cisplatin for the Treatment of Isolated Mediastinal Recurrence of Lung Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2017
[Cancer patient with dyspnoe--remember the possibility of pulmonary tumor microembolism]
Minna Kiljunen1, Irina Rinta-Kiikka, Maarit Bärlund
1TAYS, sisätautien vastuualue PL 2000, 33521 Tampere.
Abstract:
We report two patients with breast cancer who presented with a subacute course of progressive dyspnoe and shortness of breathing, culminating in respiratory failure and cardiovascular collapse from acute right heart failure. D-dimer serum levels were elevated and right ventricle strain (electrocardiogram) and pulmonary hypertension were also present. Clinical investigation and computed tomography of the chest were inconclusive. The autopsy study revealed multiple intravascular carcinomatous emboli in small arterioles of pulmonary vasculature. In the differential diagnosis of unexplained severe dyspnoe and pulmonary hypertension, malignancy should always be kept in mind.
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