Metastasis of colorectal adenocarcinoma to the right ventricle in a young man: a case report

Abstract

Cardiac cancers are exceedingly rare, mainly appearing as secondary cancers in patients with numerous systemic metastases, and are often detected by autopsies. Right ventricle (RV) metastasis from metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is rarely reported in the literature. We report a 24-year-old man's case of mCRC, who developed positional variation in pulse rate while receiving the second cycle of chemotherapy. The echocardiography and chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed RV mass. The tumor was right-sided, and Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) mutated based on that. He was treated with FOLFOX chemotherapy protocol plus bevacizumab and enoxaparin with an initial reduction in mass size. However, follow-up CT 9 months later demonstrated disease progression. For that, the chemotherapy was stopped, and the patient received palliative care. In conclusion, this case provides evidence that mCRC and RV location of metastasis can and do occur. In such a case, therapeutic intervention should be determined by weighing the benefits and risks.