BM-12 * CEREBRAL INFARCTION SECONDARY TO PULMONARY VEIN COMPRESSION AND LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE TUMOR INFILTRATION AS THE PRESENTING SIGN OF METASTATIC SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE BASE OF THE TONGUE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue has been documented to metastasize to the lungs and rarely involve the heart. The majority of documented cases of cardiac metastases are from postmortem analysis. Cases of sudden death, syncope, and dyspnea have been reported. However, stroke and tumor embolization to the brain as the initial clinical presentation has not been documented in the English literature. METHODS: Case Report. RESULTS: This case addresses a 61-year-old male with Stage IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the left tongue base, believed to be in remission after systemic chemotherapy and local radiation, who presented with acute cerebral infarctions involving multiple vascular territories. Cardiac CT obtained during stroke etiology evaluation displayed metastatic disease compressing the pulmonary vein resulting in virtual pulmonary vein thrombus. Transthoracic echocardiogram was negative for cardiac valvular pathology. Anticoagulation was initiated. Twelve days later he returned with recurrent strokes and suspected tumor embolization to the brain. Imaging displayed left atrial appendage structural abnormality highly suggestive of tumor infiltration. CONCLUSION: Cardiac metastases are rare and non-myxomatous tumor embolization to the brain even rarer especially in the setting of cerebral infarction due to pulmonary vein thrombus. Here we describe a case of multiple acute cerebral infarctions appearing from a proximal source refractory to anticoagulation. Thromboembolism from the pulmonary vein and tumor embolization from cardiac metastases are the likely mechanisms for his clinical presentation and radiographic findings. This case demonstrates the complexity of multiple stroke etiologies in one patient and the importance of cardiac imaging in stroke evaluation, particularly in the setting of a patient with a history of cancer.