Multiple thromboemboli associated to two occult tumors: a case mimicking catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome

Autoimmune paraneoplastic syndromes associated to lung cancer: A systematic review of the literature: Part 2: Hematologic, cutaneous and vascular syndromes

The development of new immune treatment in oncology and particularly for lung cancer may induce new complications, particularly activation or reactivation of auto-immune diseases. In this context, a systematic review on the auto-immune paraneoplastic syndromes associated with lung cancer appears useful. This article is the second of a series of five and deals with hematologic, cutaneous and vascular syndromes.

Trousseau's Syndrome in Cholangiocarcinoma: The Risk of Making the Diagnosis

We report a case of Trousseau's syndrome with cholangiocarcinoma complicated by a fatal pulmonary embolism after liver biopsy. A 69-year-old man who presented with right upper quadrant pain was found to have portal vein thrombosis and nonspecific liver hypodensities after imaging by computerized tomography. Following four days of anticoagulation, heparin was held for percutaneous liver biopsy. After the biopsy, he developed acute hepatic failure, acute kidney injury, lactic acidemia, and expired. Autopsy revealed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and a pulmonary embolism. Trousseau's syndrome with cholangiocarcinoma is rarely reported and has a poor prognosis. This case highlights a fundamental challenge in the diagnosis and early management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with hypercoagulability. Diagnostic biopsy creates an imperative to reduce post-operative bleeding risk, but this conflicts with the need to reduce thrombotic risk in a hypercoagulable state. Considering the risk of withholding anticoagulation in patients with proven or suspected cholangiocarcinoma complicated by portal vein thrombosis, physicians should consider biopsy procedures with lesser bleeding risks, such as transjugular liver biopsy or plugged percutaneous liver biopsy, to minimize interruption of anticoagulation.

Trousseau's Syndrome Caused by Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: An Autopsy Case Report and Literature Review

An autopsy case report of Trousseau's syndrome caused by intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is presented, and seven previously reported cases are reviewed. A 73-year-old woman experiencing light-headedness and dementia of unknown cause for 6 months developed severe hypotonia. A hypointense lesion compatible with acute cerebral infarction was detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Abdominal computed tomography revealed an ill-defined large liver mass in the right lobe. The mass was not further investigated because of the patient's poor condition. She died of multiple organ failure, and an autopsy was conducted. Postmortem examination revealed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, fibrous vegetations on the mitral valves and multiple thromboemboli in the cerebrum, spleen and rectum. Trousseau's syndrome is defined as an idiopathic thromboembolism in patients with undiagnosed or concomitantly diagnosed malignancy. This syndrome is encountered frequently in patients with mucin-producing carcinomas, while the incidence in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is uncommon. We found that tissue factor and mucin tumor marker (CA19-9, CA15-3 and CA-125) expression in cancer cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of thromboembolism. A patient with unexplained thromboembolism may have occult visceral malignancy; thus, mucin tumor markers may indicate the origin of a mucin-producing carcinoma, and postmortem examination may play an important role in revealing the hidden malignancy.