Subacute Cor Pulmonale
- This form of
presentation occurs when small subliminal tumor deposits obstruct a sufficient cross
section of the pulmonary vascular bed.
- The spectrum of pulmonary symptoms is identically
to thromboembolism.
- Patients are in prolonged respiratory distress with normal chest x-ray
and with or without signs of pulmonary hypertension.
- Choriocarcinoma, hepatoma, breast and
stomach tumors account for most of the primaries with such presentation.
- This entity
should be considered in a female with severe respiratory distress with a history of recent
abortion or delivery chorionic gonadotropin levels are high.
- When recognized, chemotherapy
offers a favorable prognosis in patients with choriocarcinoma.
- Prognosis is poor with
other primary malignancies.
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