Echocardiographic imaging of tricuspid and pulmonary valve abnormalities in primary ovarian carcinoid tumor

• Main Authors: Aggeli Constantina, Felekos Ioannis, Kazazaki Christina, Giannopoulos Dimitrios, Kartalis Athanasios, Pitsavos Christos, Stefanadis Christodoulos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2010-09-01
• Series: Cardiovascular Ultrasound
• Online Access: http://www.cardiovascularultrasound.com/content/8/1/37
• ISSN: 1476-7120

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Carcinoid is a rare malignancy originating from enterochromaffin cells and is clinically characterized by flushing, diarrhea and bronchospasm, due to secretion of vasoactive substances. A dreaded complication is carcinoid heart disease, which mainly affects right cardiac chambers, resulting in thickened, immobile and retracted tricuspid and pulmonary valves. In the current report, a case of a 60-year old female presenting with symptoms of right heart failure is described. Transthoracic two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography findings, as well as biochemical markers, including pro-BNP and NT-pro-BNP, were consistent with carcinoid syndrome. The histological diagnosis of carcinoid was confirmed after surgical resection of an ovarian mass.</p>