Lung India (Jan 2005)
Atrial fibrillation - An unusual presentation of metastatic lung cancer
Abstract
Cardiac rhythm disturbances are common concern among patients with neoplastic diseases. Arrhythmias may occur due to the effect of the tumor itself, treatment of the neoplastic process, or metabolic abnormalities. Dysrhythmia in cancer patients is morphologically and functionally identical to dysrhythmia seen in other patients. Atrial fibrillation may occur due to structural diseases of the heart like myxoma and rarely tumors from lung extending to myocardium. We report two cases of metastatic lung cancer, invading atrial cavity and presenting with atrial fibrillation.