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Right atrial mass associated with hepatoma--2 case reports
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma rarely spreads to the heart. Echocardiography aids in diagnosing right atrial tumor thrombi, a life-threatening complication of hepatoma, enabling timely intervention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) commonly metastasizes via the venous system.
- Intracardiac extension of HCC into the right atrium is rare but poses a significant risk of sudden death due to potential blood flow obstruction.
Observation:
- This study presents two cases of HCC with intracardiac tumor thrombi extending into the right atrium.
- Diagnosis of these right atrial tumor thrombi was challenging in the past but is now readily achieved using echocardiography.
Findings:
- Two-dimensional echocardiography effectively detected right atrial tumor thrombi in both presented cases of hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Successful surgical removal of such tumor thrombi has been reported, offering a potential treatment avenue.
Implications:
- Echocardiography is crucial for diagnosing cardiac metastasis in hepatoma patients presenting with cardiac symptoms.
- Early detection via echocardiography can guide timely surgical intervention for right atrial tumor thrombi, improving patient outcomes.