Solitary tumour metastasis: a rare cause of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction and sudden death.

The clinical features of a patient presenting with recent breathlessness indicated right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, while echocardiography suggested the presence of tumour in the right ventricle. Before further investigations could be instituted, she died suddenly. Autopsy revealed a haemopericardium secondary to rupture of the right atrium while the right ventricle was found to contain a tumour arising from most of its endocardial surface. Histology showed this to be a poorly differentiated mucous secreting carcinoma similar in appearance to her colonic carcinoma excised 8 years previously. There was no other evidence of metastatic disease.