A case of cardiac metastasis from uterine cervical carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cardiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Cardiac metastasis from uterine cervical carcinoma is exceptionally rare, with most cases identified only during autopsy.
• Antemortem diagnosis of cardiac metastasis from this malignancy is even rarer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of antemortem cardiac metastasis from uterine cervical carcinoma.
• To emphasize the importance of considering cardiac involvement in terminal cervical cancer patients, particularly when unusual clinical signs emerge.

Main Methods:

• A 27-year-old woman with stage Ib1 uterine cervical carcinoma underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.
• Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) identified para-aortic lymph node metastasis, leading to adjuvant chemotherapy and subsequent radiation therapy.
• Multidetector CT was used to detect an intracardiac tumor after a significant decrease in platelet count was observed.

Main Results:

• The patient initially responded to chemotherapy, but pelvic lymph node recurrence was suspected.
• A notable decrease in platelet count occurred seven months post-treatment, prompting further investigation.
• Multidetector CT confirmed an intracardiac tumor, representing cardiac metastasis from cervical carcinoma.

Conclusions:

• This case underscores the possibility of antemortem cardiac metastasis from uterine cervical carcinoma, a finding rarely detected before autopsy.
• A declining platelet count can serve as a potential indicator for cardiac metastasis in advanced cervical cancer.
• Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for cardiac involvement in patients with terminal cervical carcinoma presenting with unexplained hematological changes.