Pulmonary Carcinoid and Left-Sided Heart Disease: When Carcinoid Goes Left

Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) is a rare cause of valvular dysfunction due to exposure to vasoactive substances secreted by neuroendocrine tumors. Left-sided involvement of the mitral and aortic valves is uncommon.

A 53-year-old woman presented with progressive dyspnea and severe mitral regurgitation with moderate stenosis and moderate aortic regurgitation. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level was elevated, while other biomarkers of carcinoid activity were negative. Echocardiography demonstrated characteristic valvular thickening and restricted leaflet motion. The patient had a known well-differentiated pulmonary carcinoid without metastatic disease. After multidisciplinary discussion, bioprosthetic mitral and aortic valve replacement was performed, with histological confirmation of CHD. Subsequent pulmonary lobectomy was uneventful.

Diagnosis of left-sided CHD can be challenging given the limited sensitivity of traditional biomarkers.

Left-sided CHD is rare but may occur in the setting of pulmonary carcinoid. Biomarkers in CHD may be negative, further complicating diagnosis.