Cement cardiac embolism following kyphoplasty noted on thoracic imaging

Abstract

Asymptomatic polymethyl methacrylate cardiac embolism is an uncommon complication of kyphoplasty. We report a case of a 56-year-old female with an incidentally noted radiopaque foreign body in the right ventricular cavity on chest x-ray following kyphoplasty. In this report, we discuss how to differentiate between the potential intracardiac foreign bodies and how to establish the diagnosis of polymethyl methacrylate embolism. Once diagnosed, the management of these patients remains controversial. Keywords: Cement, Cardiac embolism, Polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA