Key result
A metastatic liver mass compressing the inferior vena cava can mimic the clinical symptoms of heart failure, such as dyspnea and lower extremity edema.
Why the study?
Dyspnea is common in heart disease but can stem from other conditions such as liver disease; this report describes a rare metastatic liver mass presenting as heart failure.
Case Report (n=1)
No
In patients presenting with dyspnea and normal left heart function, evaluation of the inferior vena cava should be considered to rule out external compression by liver masses mimicking heart failure.
Consider metastatic IVC compression in atypical HF presentations; extends differential but hypothesis-generating only.
Objective: Dyspnea is a common symptom of heart disease that can also be related to other disorders, such as liver disease. In this case report, we aim to describe a rare case of metastatic liver mass that presented with heart failure. Case Presentation: A 50-year-old woman without a past medical history arrived at our hospital with a history of dyspnea and swelling in the lower extremities. She did not complain of pain, arthralgia, trauma, or chest pain but complained of exertional dyspnea and fatigue that had started one month before and had aggravated two days before. Her laboratory test indicated anemia. In echocardiography, we saw mild right ventricle enlargement and dysfunction, but the left heart was normal with acceptable systolic and diastolic function. In the subcostal view, the inferior vena cava (IVC) was dilated but under compression of a large liver mass. According to our literature review, this is the first case in which a metastatic liver mass had presented with heart failure. Conclusion: In patients presenting with dyspnea, despite normal echocardiographic findings, the exact evaluation of the IVC should be considered.
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Mohamadi et al. (2024) conducted a case report in Metastatic liver mass mimicking heart failure (n=1). Metastatic liver mass compressing the inferior vena cava was evaluated. A metastatic liver mass compressing the inferior vena cava can mimic the clinical symptoms of heart failure, such as dyspnea and lower extremity edema.
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