Colon Cancer with Metastasis to the Right Atrium: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

We report a case of colon cancer with pancreatic and interesting heart metastasis several months prior to disseminated metastases. The case was a 59-year-old man with a cecal cancer (T4N2); he received chemotherapy with XELOX regimen and then radiotherapy up to a dose of 45 Gy. He was under close and regular follow-up. After 42 months, he developed jaundice and computed tomography (CT) scan showed an isolated mass in the pancreas. We performed Whipple's operation and the pathology report was pancreatic metastasis. He received chemotherapy and was relatively well until his CEA rose again and the chest CT scan indicated cardiac metastasis. We resected the metastasis and administered chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the case developed brain metastasis and passed away. We searched the literature and found 15 cases of colon cancer and cardiac metastasis. We found no cases with metastasis from colon cancer to the left side. Although cardiac metastasis has a poor prognosis, it might be more prevalent than what is generally believed.