Key result
Large right atrial melanoma metastasis presents with cardiac symptoms and rapid death within 23 days.
Why the study?
Cardiac metastases occur in up to 20% of autopsies in metastatic neoplasms, but clinical awareness and investigation in melanoma patients with cardiac symptoms are critical.
Case Report (n=1)
Clinicians should consider cardiac metastases in patients with malignant melanoma presenting with new-onset cardiac symptoms.
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Fatal cardiac melanoma metastasis highlights diagnostic vigilance in symptomatic patients; extends sparse case reports but leaves open need for larger cohort studies.
The heart is regularly involved in metastatic neoplasms with cardiac metastases being found in up to 20 % of autopsies. We present a case about a 42-year-old Caucasian female with a fatal metastatic melanoma to the heart. The five- year survival rate for stage IV melanoma (melanoma with metastases to other organs) is 15 to 20 %. If patients with malignant melanoma present with new onset of cardiac symptoms, clinicians should always be aware of the possibility of cardiac metastases and perform further investigations.
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Aerts et al. (2013) conducted a case report in Cardiac metastasis of malignant melanoma (n=1). Cardiac metastasis of malignant melanoma was evaluated. A 42-year-old woman with a history of malignant melanoma presented with cardiac symptoms and was diagnosed with a large right atrial metastasis, ultimately dying 23 days after presentation.
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