A rare case of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma presenting as a pulmonary embolism from nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

Abstract

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) also called, ''Marantic endocarditis'' occurs due to an underlying hypercoagulable state causing tissue damage and upregulation of the coagulation cascade, with noninfective vegetation formation on heart valves. Mitral and aortic valves are most commonly involved. NBTE is rare, with an incidence of 1.6%, with 65 cases identified during a 10-year autopsy analysis. The most common malignancies associated with NBTE include gynecological cancers, lung cancer, gastric cancer, and pancreatic cancers with adenocarcinoma histology being the greatest risk. Herein, we present a rare case of a 55-year-old male who presented with acute hypoxic respiratory failure secondary to pulmonary embolism due to nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. He was found to have advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma on further investigation of the 2.2 cm hypodense cystic mass in the distal pancreatic body and tail, and complex liver masses which were incidentally found on computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the chest. This is a rare phenomenon and clinicians have to consider the hypercoagulable state associated with cancers, particularly pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and the risk of NBTE.

Keywords

• Marantic endocarditis
• Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis
• Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• Hypercoagulable state