A Case of Primary Unknown Squamous Cell Carcinoma Incidentally Found in the Thrombus After Pulmonary Embolectomy.

Choi, Chang Hwan; Park, Young Soo; Ryu, Dong Ryeol; Park, Sung Ha; Ko, Won Ki; Ahn, Kang Hyun; Park, Jae Min; Kim, Se Kyu; Chang, Joon; Kim, Sung Kyu; Lee, Won Young

doi:1999.47.1.103

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 47(1); 1999 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1999;47(1):103-110.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1999.47.1.103 Published online July 1, 1999.

A Case of Primary Unknown Squamous Cell Carcinoma Incidentally Found in the Thrombus After Pulmonary Embolectomy.

Chang Hwan Choi, Young Soo Park, Dong Ryeol Ryu, Sung Ha Park, Won Ki Ko, Kang Hyun Ahn, Jae Min Park, Se Kyu Kim, Joon Chang, Sung Kyu Kim, Won Young Lee

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
²The Institute of Chest Diseases, Korea.

Abstract

A thromboembolic event in patients later given a diagnosis of cancer is the result rather than the cause of the cancer. The risk of hidden cancer is significantly higher for patients with recurrent idiopathic thromboembolism compared to those with secondary deep vein thrombosis. Microemboli from hepatic or adrenal metastases and large-sized emboli from the great veins invaded by the tumor are the sources of tumor embolization. The intraarterial tumor emboli less likely invade the arterial wall. Thrombus formation and organization may be capable of destroying tumor cells within pulmonary blood vessels. Therefore, all tumor emboli are not true metastases. The treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients with cancer consists of anticoagulation with heparin and warfarin, venacaval filters, appropriate anti-neoplastic agents, and surgical methods(embolectomy, thromboendarterectomy). However, considerable literatures suggest that oral anticoagulant such as warfarin is ineffective in the treatment of those. We report a case of primary unknown squamous cell carcinoma incidentally found in the thrombus after pulmonary embolectomy.

Key Words: Squamous cell carcinoma, Thrombus, Pulmonary embolectomy