Journal of the Korean Society of Echocardiography  2004;12(2):83-86

4 Cases of Intracardiac Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Ho Sang LEE 1 ; Jae Sun UHM ; Hyun Jung JUNG ; Jee In LEE ; Sang Woo HAN ; Ki Hoon HU ; Hyun Jin KIM ; Chan Seok PARK ; Jong Min LEE ; Chul Soo PARK ; Yong Seok OH ; Ho Joong YOUN ; Wook Sung CHUNG ; Soon Jo HONG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Hepatocellular carcinoma; Cardiac metastasis; Echocardiography

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Antemortem diagnosis of inferior vena cava (IVC) and cardiac metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is difficult but important to decide on treatment strategy. There are only a few cases of cardiac metastasis of HCC which have been diagnosed antemortem by echocardiography. We experienced 3 cases of IVC and Right atrial metastasis and 1 case of Left atrial metastasis of HCC. The tumor was discovered during computed tomography scanning. The patients had exhibited no signs of cardiac involvement. In this case, transesophageal echocardiography was valuable in providing information regarding the exact location of the tumor and its relation to surrounding anatomical structures. Left atrial metastasis of HCC is unusual patterns and probably related to tumor growth from the pulmonary veins following massive metastasis to the lung.