Stein Hadassah, Bellesheim Matthew, Ganz Marc, Miller Daniel, Syed Salman, Minter Bradley
Radiology, Northwell Health, New York, USA.
Internal Medicine, Northwell Health, New York, USA.
Cureus. 2024 Jul 13;16(7):e64486. doi: 10.7759/cureus.64486. eCollection 2024 Jul.
Cardiac metastases occur in a significant proportion of cancer patients and profoundly affect clinical outcomes and management strategies, especially in esophageal cancer, where the metastasis typically targets the left heart due to its unique lymphatic spread. Diagnostic imaging is crucial for patients with cardiac symptoms or electrocardiogram (EKG) changes, as it significantly influences treatment decisions, including the operability of the primary tumor and the risks associated with left-sided metastasis, such as the potential for embolization leading to stroke. This case report provides a detailed analysis of esophageal cancer metastasizing to the left atrium, highlighting diagnostic challenges and discussing the appearance of cardiac metastasis across various imaging modalities. The report examines the advantages and limitations of each imaging technique, offering insights into their roles in accurate diagnosis and effective management in complex clinical scenarios.
相当一部分癌症患者会发生心脏转移,这对临床结局和治疗策略有深远影响,尤其是在食管癌中,由于其独特的淋巴扩散途径,转移通常靶向左心。对于有心脏症状或心电图(EKG)改变的患者,诊断性影像学检查至关重要,因为它会显著影响治疗决策,包括原发肿瘤的可切除性以及与左侧转移相关的风险,如导致中风的栓塞可能性。本病例报告详细分析了转移至左心房的食管癌,突出了诊断挑战,并讨论了各种成像方式下心脏转移的表现。该报告审视了每种成像技术的优缺点,深入探讨了它们在复杂临床场景中准确诊断和有效管理方面的作用。