Diffuse Tumor Microembolism

Pulmonary tumor embolism is a rare but well-documented cause of respiratory failure in patients with cancer. This entity is probably clinically underrecognized and may represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality. A typical pattern of multiple peripheral subsegmental defects on perfusion...

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Veröffentlicht in:Chest 1997-04, Vol.111 (4), p.1122-1125
Hauptverfasser: Moores, Lisa K., Burrell, Linda M., Morse, Robert W., Belgrave, Clyde H., Balingit, Antonio G.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Pulmonary tumor embolism is a rare but well-documented cause of respiratory failure in patients with cancer. This entity is probably clinically underrecognized and may represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality. A typical pattern of multiple peripheral subsegmental defects on perfusion lung scanning has been described. We present a case of a unilateral near absence of perfusion in a 53-year-old woman who on autopsy was found to have diffuse tumor microembolism. As new chemotherapeutic agents are developed for the treatment of malignancies, an early diagnosis may become more important. A high-probability perfusion scan should not dissuade the clinician from pursuing further evaluation. Cytologic findings of pulmonary venous blood may be diagnostic.
ISSN:0012-3692
1931-3543
DOI:10.1378/chest.111.4.1122