Malignant arterial tumor embolization

Malignant arterial tumor emboli large enough to cause ischemia or organ infarction are a rare, but often fatal, complication of neoplastic disease. The majority of arterial emboli are associated with primary or secondary pulmonary malignancies. The sites where they impact are similar in distribution to arteriosclerotic emboli, and the treatment follows well-established principles developed for the treatment of arteriosclerotic emboli. The results of embolectomy in accessible sites are very good, thus treatment should always be attempted. A case of a superior mesenteric tumor embolus occurring after pneumonectomy is reported, together with a review of all published cases of arterial tumor emboli of sufficient size to cause organ infarction or ischemia.