Left atrial extension of metastatic renal cell carcinoma via pulmonary vein: A case report

Abstract

Cardiac involvement from renal cell carcinoma is rare but well-recognized entity with several cases reported in literature. In majority of cases, the tumor reaches the right heart cavities through a neoplastic thrombus within inferior vena cava. Other mechanisms are dissemination via hematogeous spread and direct extension from either mediastinal or lung lesions involving pulmonary veins. Left heart involvement from renal cell carcinoma with normal inferior vena cava is extremely rare. Direct extension of metastatic pulmonary mass to left atrium from renal cell carcinoma via pulmonary veins is even rarer. We report a case of left atrial extension via pulmonary vein from metastatic renal cell carcinoma who presented with left cerebellar and right thalamic acute ischemic lesions along with multiple metastatic lesions.