Metastatic melanoma to the heart causing ventricular tachycardia: looking beyond the troponin

Published Date: 25th May 2022

Publication Authors: Goodall J, Beveridge NER, Rasoul D, Bhamidipati K

 

Abstract:
A man in his mid-50s presented with palpitations, chest pain and syncope. After initial workup for a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, a CT scan revealed metastatic melanoma. The malignancy was infiltrating his right ventricle, resulting in recurrent ventricular tachycardia. Although initially hard to manage, his arrhythmias were eventually controlled with medication. Unfortunately, despite an initial response to immunotherapy, he died six months after diagnosis.

Cardiac metastases are rare, but melanoma has a high predication for metastasising to the heart and a small number of cases of such metastases causing ventricular arrhythmias have previously been reported. This case shows the importance of concurrent investigations when patients report multiple, seemingly unrelated symptoms as a unifying diagnosis may be uncovered.

 

Goodall, J; Beveridge, NER; Rasoul, D; Bhamidipati, K. (2022). Metastatic melanoma to the heart causing ventricular tachycardia: looking beyond the troponin. BMJ Case Reports. 15 (5), e247658

 

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