Myocardial metastasis from primary lung cancer: myocardial infarction-like ECG changes and pathologic findings.

Abstract

Myocardial metastasis from neoplastic disease is often clinically unapparent, and very difficult to diagnose. Of 151 consecutive autopsies of lung cancer patients, cardiac metastases were found in 67 patients (44.4%). Myocardial metastasis was found in only 8 patients (11.9%). ECG of patients with myocardial metastasis revealed ST-T wave changes and various types of arrhythmia. ST-T wave changes were observed in 4 with myocardial metastasis, and in 6 without myocardial metastasis (pericardial metastasis alone). ST-T wave changes is not a specific finding of myocardial metastasis. Two very rare cases with myocardial metastasis showing progressive ST segment elevation with a QS pattern are presented. The appearance of ST segment elevation with a QS pattern in clinically stable lung cancer patients without cardiac symptoms suggestive of myocardial injury indicates the possibility of myocardial metastasis. Myocardial metastasis is often elusive, thus careful observation of ECG changes is of primary importance for the antemortem diagnosis.