Right intraventricular metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: An autopsy case and literature review

An autopsy case of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, which developed cardiac intracavitary metastasis in a 28-year-old Filipina, is reported. At autopsy, the right ventricle contained a soft, red-purple, cauliflower-like mass. Histologically, this mass was made up of sheets of malignant squamous cells similar to the primary uterine foci. The metastases were extensive and associated with multiple organ involvement. Although this case was stage Ib at operation, vascular invasion at the primary site was characteristic, and the intracavitary tumor of the right ventricle developed without myocardial involvement. The carcinoma of the primary site extended along the inferior vena cava and settled as an intracardiac obstructive mass. A literature review (including the present case) disclosed only 14 uterine cervical carcinomas with right intracavitary metastasis. The mean age of these patients was 46 years of age (range, 28-77 years). The clinical stage was Ib in two cases, IIa in one case, IIb in six cases, and IIIb in two cases. The prognosis of these cases was poor; 13 of the patients died at an average of 19.1 months after diagnosis.