Abstract

HERRERA DE PABLO, P. et al. Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis as initial event of lung cancer. An. Med. Interna (Madrid) [online]. 2004, vol.21, n.10, pp.37-41. ISSN 0212-7199.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a rare cause of peripheral embolism. NBTE is usually associated with malignant diseases and hipercoagulability states. Echocardiography is a very useful technique for the diagnosis. However valvular lesions in NBTE are similar to valvular vegetations observed from infectious endocarditis (IE), so it´s necessary to establish a differential diagnosis. The treatment of thrombotic endocarditis is controversial, but the literature coincides in the use of intravenous heparin. We describe the case of a 42 years old woman with stroke in which transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was useful in establishing the diagnosis of NBTE. The infectious origin was excluded with the realization of a exhaustive microbiologic study. In the search of causes for NBTE a lung adenocarcinoma was detected. In the present case the diagnosis of endocarditis preceded the neoplastic disease diagnosis.

Keywords : Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis; Echocardiography; Cancer.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )