Fatal pulmonary tumor embolism in a child with chondroblastic osteosarcoma

Internal Jugular Venous Extension of a Mandibular Osteosarcoma With Literature Review

Head and neck osteosarcomas (HNOS) account for less than 1% of all head and neck cancers and makeup 6-10% of all primary osteosarcomas. Mandibular osteosarcomas are the second most common subtype of HNOS. They demonstrate higher recurrence rates; however, are amenable to surgery. An 18-year-old male presented with a 2 cm x 3 cm x 2 cm intraoral mass for two months. Biopsy revealed chondroblastic osteosarcoma. Computed tomography revealed extension into the left internal jugular vein. Composite resection of the left mandible, floor of the mouth, ventral tongue, submandibular gland, and modified radical neck dissection with fibular flap repair was performed. Adjuvant chemotherapy and palliative radiotherapy were added. Unfortunately, progressive metastasis to the contralateral mandible and entire spinal cord ensued. We report the first case of head and neck osteosarcoma with intravascular invasion into the internal jugular vein.

Diagnostic transcatheter aspiration for pulmonary artery tumor embolism using an INARI Triever aspiration catheter

Pulmonary artery tumor embolism is a rare phenomenon and its diagnosis is important because of a poor prognosis. We report a 20-year-old male with history of metastatic osteosarcoma who presented with acute pulmonary embolism. He was urgently taken to the catheterization laboratory and underwent transcatheter aspiration of pulmonary artery mass using an INARI Triever aspiration catheter. Pathology of the aspirated specimen lead to the diagnosis of pulmonary artery tumor embolism, not thrombus. This case highlights the diagnostic utility of transcatheter aspiration for the pulmonary artery tumor embolism.

Pulmonary Hypertension as a Complication of Pediatric Cancer

Pediatric cancer is a life threatening disease known to create multi-organ complications that further compromise medical management affecting patient morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is becoming more recognized as a complication of cancer and its therapies but has not been well characterized in pediatrics. Cancer pathophysiology can be uniquely set up to promote pulmonary vascular injury and remodeling that is similar to PH patients without cancer. This highlights the need to evaluate for PH clinically and with routine testing such as echocardiography during the course of a patient's care even into adulthood. This review article will discuss the direct, indirect and therapy related aspects of cancer which can promote PH in these patients. This understanding is essential to target effective treatment options in a potentially fatal complication. Diagnostic and treatment algorithms are presented in relation to the most recent pediatric PH management guidelines.

Cardiovascular recurrence of high-grade osteosarcoma presenting as atrial thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: A case report and review of the pediatric literature

In the era of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, extrapulmonary involvement by high-grade osteosarcoma (HGOS) is rare. Importantly however, HGOS metastasis in the form of cardiovascular tumor thrombus portends a dismal prognosis. Thus, prompt and accurate identification of tumor thrombus is crucial. We report here two unique cases of recurrent HGOS, presenting as thrombotic events, in order to increase awareness and index of suspicion among practitioners regarding this presentation. Additionally, we review 14 previously reported pediatric cases of cardiovascular metastatic HGOS.

Radiological characteristics and predisposing factors of venous tumor thrombus in pelvic osteosarcoma: A mono-institutional retrospective study of 115 cases

BACKGROUND

Venous tumor thrombus (VTT) in pelvic osteosarcoma has been regarded as a rare oncological condition and few literatures investigated this issue.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 115 cases of pelvic osteosarcoma treated in our center from 2006 to 2016. Diagnosis of VTTs was made based on histo-pathological findings. We summarized the radiological manifestations of VTTs on CT, MRI, and PET/CT. We also compared the demographical, oncological, and radiological data between cases with or without VTTs to identify its predisposing factors.

RESULTS

Seventeen cases (14.8%) were diagnosed with VTT. Manifestations of VTTs on CT included increased caliber (64.7%), calcification (47.1%), low density on plain scan (100%), filling defect (100%), and streak-like enhancement (35.7%) on contrast enhancement. On MRI, the VTTs could be hypo- or iso-intense on T1WI (100%), hyperintense on T2WI (100%), and filling defect on contrast enhancement (100%). PET/CT showed high metabolic activity of the VTTs. The ranges of the VTTs included unilateral external iliac vein (EIV) (two cases), unilateral internal iliac vein (IIV) (one case), unilateral common iliac vein (CIV) and IIV (five cases), unilateral CIV + EIV (two cases), inferior vena cava (IVC) and unilateral CIV + EIV (one case), IVC and unilateral CIV + IIV (four cases), IVC and bilateral CIVs + IIVs (two cases). Multivariate analysis indicated that chondroblastic subtype and involvement of L5/S1 intervertebral foramen might predispose to VTTs.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of VTTs in pelvic osteosarcoma was 14.8%. Comprehensive radiological studies help preoperative diagnosis of VTTs. Predisposing factors included chondroblasic subtype and involvement of L5/S1 intervertebral foramen.

Tumor thrombus in the large veins draining primary pelvic osteosarcoma on cross sectional imaging

PURPOSE

To evaluate the frequency of tumor thrombus in the large veins draining primary pelvic osteosarcoma on early cross-sectional imaging studies and its effect on patient survival.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our retrospective study included all patients with primary pelvic osteosarcoma treated at our facility between January 2000 and May 2014, who were ≤ 45 years of age, and had adequate imaging studies and clinical follow up. Four radiologists evaluated for tumor in the large draining veins on initial CT, MRI and PET/CTs. A consensus evaluation by the four radiologists together with findings on operative reports, pathology reports or follow-up imaging was used as the reference standard.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients with primary pelvic osteosarcoma met final inclusion criteria. Tumor thrombus was identified in the large draining veins in 10 of the 22 (45%) patients who underwent tumor resection and 10 of the 17 (59%) who did not. In the 22 patients who underwent tumor resection, tumor thrombus was significantly associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor thrombus in the large draining veins is identified in a significant proportion of initial imaging studies in patients with pelvic osteosarcoma, and is associated with worse overall survival in patients who undergo tumor resection.

Neoplastic embolization to systemic and pulmonary arteries

OBJECTIVE

Arterial neoplastic emboli are uncommon, accounting for <1% of thromboemboli in the current literature. Nonetheless, this event may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Herein, we report a series of 11 cases of arterial neoplastic emboli from a single tertiary care center along with a comprehensive review of the literature to date. The aim of this study was to document the incidence, clinical presentations, and complications of arterial neoplastic emboli as well as to highlight the importance of routine histologic examination of thrombectomy specimens.

METHODS

Pathology archives from a single tertiary care institution were queried to identify cases of surgically resected arterial emboli containing neoplasm (1998-2014). Histopathology was reviewed for confirmation of diagnosis. Patient demographics and oncologic history were abstracted from the medical record. Comprehensive literature review documented 332 patients in 275 reports (1930-2016).

RESULTS

Eleven patients (six men) with a median age of 63 years (interquartile range, 42-71 years) were identified through institutional archives. Embolism was the primary form of diagnosis in seven (64%) cases. Cardiac involvement (primary or metastasis) was present in more than half of the cohort. Comprehensive literature review revealed that pulmonary primaries were the most common anatomic origin of arterial neoplastic emboli, followed by gastrointestinal neoplasia. Cardiac involvement was present in 18% of patients, and sentinel identification of neoplasia occurred in 30% of cases. Postmortem evaluation was the primary means of diagnosis in 27%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the importance of routine histopathologic evaluation of embolectomy specimens in patients with and without documented neoplasia.

Cardiovascular involvement by osteosarcoma: an analysis of 20 patients

BACKGROUND

Although hematogenous spread of osteosarcoma is well known, the imaging findings of cardiovascular involvement by osteosarcoma are seldom reported and can be difficult to recognize. The enhanced resolution of modern CT and MRI scanners may lead to better detection of cardiovascular involvement.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the key imaging findings and clinical behavior of cardiovascular involvement by osteosarcoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the imaging findings and clinical characteristics of 20 patients with cardiovascular involvement by osteosarcoma identified by two pediatric radiologists from a review of imaging studies at our institution from 2007 to 2013.

RESULTS

At initial diagnosis, the median age of the patients was 15.1 years (range 4.8-24.6 years), and 7 (35%) patients had detectable metastases. Median time to detection of cardiovascular metastases was 1.8 years (range 0-7.3 years). Sixteen patients died of disease; 4 have survived a median of 7.4 years since initial diagnosis. The sites of cardiovascular involvement were the systemic veins draining the primary and metastatic osteosarcoma, pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins draining the pulmonary metastases, and heart. A dilated and mineralized terminal pulmonary arteriole is an early sign of metastatic osteosarcoma in the lung. Unfamiliarity with the imaging features resulted in under-recognition and misinterpretation of intravascular tumor thrombus as bland thrombus.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of imaging findings in the era of modern imaging modalities has enhanced our ability to detect cardiovascular involvement and lung metastases early and avoid misinterpreting tumor thrombus in draining systemic veins or pulmonary arteries as bland thrombus.

Metastatic osteosarcoma presenting as a single pulmonary microembolus

There are only a few published reports of tumor emboli from osteosarcoma. We are reporting a 17-year-old adolescent boy with a history of localized osteosarcoma who developed a symptomatic pulmonary artery tumor embolus. He was initially diagnosed with a pulmonary thromboembolism. This is the first reported case of a single tumor embolus developing after surgical resection of a tumor with 100% necrosis after chemotherapy and no evidence of metastatic disease at the time of surgery. Pulmonary tumor embolism should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with cancer who present with dyspnea. The differentiation of tumor embolus from other causes of dyspnea is important for treatment plan.