pulmonary disorders
Nonthrombotic Pulmonary Embolism
Tumor embolism
Tumor embolism is a rare complication of cancer (usually adenocarcinoma) in which neoplastic cells from an organ enter the systemic venous and pulmonary arterial system where they lodge, proliferate, and obstruct blood flow. Benign metastasizing leiomyoma may also embolize to the lung. Patients typically present with dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain and signs of Cor Pulmonale that develop over weeks to months. The diagnosis may be suggested by micronodules or diffuse pulmonary infiltrates on chest x-ray or CT scan, but these findings are neither very sensitive nor specific. The diagnosis can be confirmed by biopsy or occasionally by cytologic aspiration and histologic study of pulmonary capillary blood. 