Key result
Autopsy revealed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma with extensive lymphovascular invasion and tumor thrombus formation as the cause of sudden fatal dyspnea in a 74-year-old man.
Case Report (n=1)
Pulmonary tumor embolism is a rare but fatal cause of sudden-onset dyspnea and cardiac arrest in patients with malignancy, often diagnosed only at autopsy.
A 74-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on home oxygen and coronary artery disease was transferred from an outside facility to obtain an inguinal lymph node biopsy to rule out malignancy. He underwent an uncomplicated procedure and was discharged the same day. While waiting for transportation, he had sudden-onset dyspnea and collapsed. After resuscitation, patient had return of spontaneous circulation and was admitted but was provided comfort care and soon expired. Autopsy showed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma with multiple bilateral tumor emboli. Pulmonary tumor embolism is a rare cause of dyspnea in cancer population. Most of the cases are diagnosed with autopsy after sudden death; however, few cases have been reported antemortem. Tumor embolism is rare and difficult to diagnose without an autopsy with a poor outcome.
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Alsaggaf et al. (2021) conducted a case report in Pulmonary tumor emboli due to metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (n=1). Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma was evaluated. Autopsy revealed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma with extensive lymphovascular invasion and tumor thrombus formation as the cause of sudden fatal dyspnea in a 74-year-old man.
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