Tumors rarely metastasize to the heart. If a tumor does metastasize to the heart then there may be one or more changes seen in the ECG.
Tumors that metastasize to the heart with some frequency:
(1) lung carcinoma
(2) malignant melanoma
(3) malignant lymphoma
(4) leukemia
(5) breast cancer
(6) gastric carcinoma
Changes that can be seen in the ECG:
(1) supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, other)
(2) acute myocardial infarction (if a coronary artery is compressed)
(3) changes of chronic pericarditis
(4) T wave inversion (localized or diffuse)
(5) nonspecific ST segment changes
Clinical findings may include:
(1) chest pain
(2) dyspnea
(3) tachycardia
The workup of the patient may include:
(1) serum troponin levels to detect myocardial necrosis
(2) echocardiography
(3) pericardial biopsy or cytology examination of the pericardial fluid
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Specialty: Cardiology, Hematology Oncology
