[A case of microscopic pulmonary tumor emboli 14 months after total cystectomy]

Hinyokika Kiyo. 2004 Apr;50(4):279-81.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 70-year-old man was admitted with slight dyspnea and fever up. The patient had had total cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder 14 months earlier and had a ureterocutaneostomy. At 2 days after the admission, he had a sudden attack of dyspnea. He was transferred to the intensive care unit, and mechanical ventilation was initiated. The pulmonary arterial pressure was measured at 65/30 mmHg, but the etiology for the pulmonary hypertension was unclear. Although highly suggestive of pulmonary embolism, chest roentgenogram and chest computed tomography (CT) showed clear lung fields. Pulmonary angiography disclosed no evidence of embolism. Despite anticoagulation therapy he died of respiratory failure. Autopsy revealed diffuse microscopic pulmonary tumor embolism with urothelial cacinoma in the pulmonary arterial vasculature. Microscopic pulmonary tumor embolism has rarely been reported with urothelial carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / surgery*
  • Cystectomy / adverse effects*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / pathology*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Pulmonary Embolism / etiology*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / pathology
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / surgery*