Obstruction of right ventricular outflow tract caused by intracavitary metastatic disease: analysis of 14 cases

Section of Cardiology, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts 01805.

Obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract from metastatic disease is rare. Eleven previous case reports and three new cases are presented. Two tumor types (pancreas and breast), not previously associated with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, are included. Congestive symptoms, systolic murmur and right axis deviation or right bundle branch conduction abnormality were universal features. Echocardiography is valuable in the delineation of metastatic cardiac involvement and the detection of intracardiac gradients. Adverse hemodynamic consequences developed in 3 of 10 patients who underwent right heart catheterization in which two died. This procedure should be performed only when absolutely necessary. Metastatic obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract should be considered in the absence of widespread malignancy because the heart was the sole site of metastasis in 5 of 10 autopsy patients. Two patients with solitary cardiac metastasis benefited from resection of the obstructing tumor, underscoring the importance of early identification of this subgroup.

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