The imitation game: Pulmonary artery sarcoma masquerading as an acute pulmonary embolism

Abstract BackgroundAcute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a life-threatening disease with nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial for the clinical management of patients with acute pulmonary embolism. A new recommended echocardiography view may be of further help in the diagnosis, evaluate the change of the thrombosis and treatment effect.Case presentationWe report a case of a 74-year-old man with a 12-day history of decreased exercise capacity and dyspnoea. The patient was diagnosed intermediate-risk APE as several pulmonary emboli in pulmonary artery were seen in multidetector computed tomographic pulmonary angiography with normal blood pressure and echocardiographic right ventricular overload. And we found a pulmonary artery clot in the right pulmonary artery through transthoracic echocardiography. After 11-days anticoagulation, the patient underwent a reassessment, showed decrease in RV diameter and pulmonary artery thrombus. ConclusionThis case highlights the significant role that echocardiography played in a patient who presented pulmonary embolism with a stable hemodynamic situation and normal blood pressure. The new echocardiographic view could provide correct diagnoses by identifying the clot size and location visually. Knowledge of the echocardiography results of APE would aid the diagnosis.

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A Case Report of Primary Pulmonary Artery Intimal Sarcoma

10.21203/rs.3.rs-673296/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaofang Bai ◽

Litao Ruan

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Pulmonary Artery ◽

Surgical Excision ◽

Final Diagnosis ◽

Initial Symptom ◽

Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma ◽

Intimal Sarcoma ◽

Delayed Treatment ◽

Primary Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma ◽

Relationship Of

Abstract Background: Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma(PAS) is a very rare disease, the prevalence of it is about 0.001%-0.003%1. PAS is often misdiagnosed as acute or chronic pulmonary thromboembolism due to its clinical presentation and radiological findings. Thus early diagnosis is very crucial and may improve patient outcome.Case presentation: Here we report a case in a Chinese male which the symptom as presentation was episodes of shortness of breath. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a solid mass in the pulmonary valve orifice, which was demonstrated to be a pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma diagnosed by histopathology2. In this case the initial differential diagnosis included pulmonary embolism. Because the initial symptom of primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is extremely similiar to the pulmonary embolism. Half of them may be misdiagnosed as pulmonary embolism. Imaging studies are very helpful. Ultrasound and CT are the best due to their resolution and ability to assess the relationship of the mass with the surrounding structures. The final diagnosis is mostly made after surgical excision and this is the most effective treatment. At the same time, radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery is also a adjuvant treatment3.Conclusion: We report a very rare case of pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma, due to late diagnosis and delayed treatment in this case, the patient display a poor prognostic. Early diagnosis and right treatment can improve the prognosis of PAS and optimize overall health.

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