Cardiac metastasis from primary anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: report of three cases and a review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Clinically evident cardiac metastases from malignant neoplasms are uncommon. The frequency of thyroid metastasis to the heart is very low. To our knowledge, over the last 20 years only a few cases have been reported in the entire literature. Metastatic cardiac involvement occurs most often during the terminal stage.

Patients: We present three cases of anaplastic thyroid cancer with metastatic involvement of the heart.

Results: Two of the patients died from cardiac problems. The absence of early symptoms makes the clinical diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma difficult.

Conclusions: Anaplastic thyroid cancer is an aggressive cancer with a dismal prognosis. It should be borne in mind as a source of cardiac metastasis and a cause of cardiac death.