Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(5):369-374

Carcinoid crisis imitates acute pulmonary embolism

Belicová M, Belicová V, Dvorský J, Mokáň M

I. interná klinika Univerzitnej nemocnice v Martine, Slovenská republika

Bronchial carcinoids are usually situated near the hilus: they often produce hormones and may be a reason of absence of lung perfusion even when atelectasis is absent. Carcinoid crisis is a life-threatening complication, which can happen spontaneously, often caused by stress. Clinical manifestations can include dyspnea, hypotension and acute right heart failure. In the case of absence of lung perfusion it can imitate acute pulmonary embolism. In this case the authors present a 55 year-old man with unknown bronchial carcinoid who, within 24 hours of coronary intervention because of acute myocardial infarction, developed breathlessness, hypotension and acute right heart failure. Fig. 4, Ref. 24, Online full text (Free, PDF) www. cardiology.sk

Keywords: bronchial carcinoid; carcinoid crisis; acute pulmonary embolism; acute right heart failure

Published: May 1, 2014  Show citation