A Peculiar Case of Rapidly Recurring Metastasis of Malignant Non-small Cell Primary Lung Carcinoma to the Heart

TL;DR

A 64-year-old man with lung cancer had a tumor in his heart that quickly returned after surgery, showing the need for close monitoring.

Contribution

This case highlights the rare and rapid recurrence of lung cancer metastasis to the heart.

Findings

A non-small cell lung carcinoma metastasized to the right atrium of the heart.

The tumor recurred rapidly within two weeks after surgical resection.

The case emphasizes the importance of monitoring resected tumor sites for regrowth.

Abstract

We report the case of a 64-year-old adult male with a rapidly recurring metastatic lung carcinoma in the right atrium of the heart. Advanced-stage lung carcinomas can metastasize to other organs such as the heart, bones, brain, liver, adrenal glands, and lymphatic system, although actual rates of metastasis to the heart are relatively quite low. This patient was diagnosed with a right atrial mass that was determined through pathology to be a result of an existing non-small cell lung carcinoma. This mass, despite resection, reappeared two weeks later at the same location and with a similar size to the previous metastatic tumor. This case highlights the importance of closely monitoring sites of resected tumors for potential regrowth and complications.

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