Death due to Cardiac Metastasis after Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Autopsy Case.
10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.1.115
- Author:
Hyoung Joong KIM
1
;
Seok Hoon JEON
;
Joong Seok SEO
Author Information
1. Division of Forensic Medicine, National Forensic Service, Seoul, Korea. giifpap@korea.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
oral squamous cell carcinoma;
cardiac metastasis;
electrocardiographic abnormalities;
sudden death
- MeSH:
Autopsy;
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell;
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation;
Death, Sudden;
Electrocardiography;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Middle Aged;
Mouth Neoplasms;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Pericarditis;
Tachycardia, Sinus
- From:Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
2012;36(1):115-118
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A 60-year-old man presented with electrocardiographic abnormalities after treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma with surgical resection and radiation therapy 7 months ago. The patient died within 2 h without response to CPR after sudden arrest. Electrocardiographic changes 9 h before death included low QRS voltage and sinus tachycardia. Autopsy revealed cardiac metastasis with chronic active fibrinoid pericarditis accompanied by tumor cell infiltration. Although the frequency of cardiac metastasis in patients with oral cancer is reportedly low, clinicians should be aware that cardiac metastasis may exist if there are electrocardiographic changes in patients receiving follow-up care for primary malignancy. We report a rare medicolegal case of cardiac metastasis-related sudden death.
