Hussain SMA. Tumor embolism and acute arterial occlusion: A systematic review.
Surg Open Sci 2022;
10:216-222. [PMID:
36389271 PMCID:
PMC9664516 DOI:
10.1016/j.sopen.2022.10.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
To determine common etiologies, presentations, management strategies and outcomes in patients with tumor embolism causing acute arterial occlusion.
Study design
This is a systematic review of published case reports on tumor embolism.
Search strategy
All published cases of tumor embolism in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were reviewed. The search terminologies were (Tumor Embolism), (Ischemia), (Occlusion) and (Infarction).
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
All published reports of tumor embolism were included. Studies regarding venous thromboembolism and cancer-associated thromboembolism without tumor embolization were excluded. The cases included numbered 42.
Outcome measures
These included the frequencies of different primary tumor types, clinical presentations, anatomical sites of embolization, types of intervention and outcomes including number of deaths and successful discharges.
Results
Lung cancer and Atrial Myxoma each accounted for 14 out of 42 cases (33%). There were 11 cases (26.9%) of stroke and 9 cases (21.4%) of myocardial infarction and limb ischemia. Femoral thrombo-embolectomy was performed in all 9 cases of limb ischemia and Primary coronary intervention was performed in 7 out of 9 (77.8%) cases of myocardial infarction. There were 14 inpatient deaths (33.3%) and 19 patients were successfully discharged (45.2%).
Conclusion
Lung cancer and atrial myxoma were the most common sources for tumor embolism. Acute stroke was the most common presentation. This is treated with antiplatelets or anticoagulation as well as chemotherapy and resection of primary tumor. Early revascularisation can prevent severe complications such as death, paralysis, heart failure and limb loss in selected cases of tumor embolism.
Key message
Histopathological examination of embolic tissue can demonstrate tumor tissue and alert the clinician to a cancer elsewhere. This is most likely to be lung cancer or atrial myxoma. Early revascularisation in selected cases of acute tumor embolism can prevent severe complications and these patients should not be automatically palliated due to their underlying neoplasm.
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