Isolated cardiac metastasis of cervical carcinoma presenting as disseminated intravascular coagulopathy - A case report

BACKGROUND: An isolated cardiac metastasis fi om cervical carcinoma is very rare. This report describes the unusual presentation in a patient diagnose d and successfully treated for stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cerv ix, presenting six months later with disease metastatic to the heart. CASE: A 44-year-old woman presented with hand swelling and bruising. She ha d undergone successful surgical treatment of a stage IB squamous cell cervi cal carcinoma six months previously. Computed tomography revealed a large m ass in the right ventricle, confirmed by echocardiography. The patient unde rwent surgery, where the mass was biopsied and debulked under a cardiopulmo nary bypass. Frozen section confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. T he patient was discharged with follow-up radiation and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: All women with myocardial abnormalities and a history of squamo us cell carcinoma of the cervix should be suspected of developing a myocard ial metastasis until proven otherwise.