Cardiac metastasis from liposarcoma to the right ventricle complicated by massive pulmonary tumor embolism

Abstract

Liposarcomas represent the second most common type of soft tissue sarcomas after malignant fibrous histiocytoma. There are four histological subtypes according to the World Health Organization: well-differentiated (atypical lipomatous) liposarcoma, dedifferentiated, myxoid (round-cell) liposarcoma (ML), and pleomorphic liposarcoma 1 . Their primary anatomical sites of origin from liposarcomas are the retroperitoneum in 25-50% and the lower limbs in 25-35%. The most frequent distant sites for metastasis arising from ML include lungs, retroperitoneum, abdominal cavity, and chest wall 1 . ML accounts for 30-50% of all liposarcomas, with a peak incidence between the third and the fifth decade of life, being more frequent in males than females, exhibiting an overall metastatic rate of 30%. Interestingly, it has an expansive growth pattern, with less aggressive infiltrative behavior, thus, causing frequently obstructive clinical syndromes at the main site of metastasis, however, metastatic intracardiac soft tissue sarcomas represent an extremely rare clinical

Invasive Metastatic Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma to the Heart, Found in Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography

“…Depending on the tumor's size and location, cardiac tumors can cause various symptoms, including heart failure, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, tamponade with pericardial effusion, arrhythmia, and syncope. However, these symptoms are not specific, and some patients have no symptoms or only minor ones, such as cough, chest discomfort, and peripheral edema [4][5][6]. Therefore, the diagnosis of cardiac tumors based on symptoms alone can be challenging.…”