What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Squamous cell carcinoma of tongue with cardiac metastasis (n=1). Intervention: Echocardiography and Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

What question did this study set out to answer?

To report a rare case of cardiac metastasis originating from squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

February 28, 2026

Cardiac metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue

Key Result

Echocardiography and PET imaging identified a rare cardiac metastasis involving the left ventricle and mitral annulus in a 38-year-old male with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Key Points

To report a rare case of cardiac metastasis originating from squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
A 38-year-old male with a biopsy-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma presented with cardiac masses evaluated through echocardiogram and PET scan.
Imaging studies assessed the size and characteristics of the cardiac mass and metastases to other regions, including the lungs and lymph nodes.
A mass at the junction of basal left ventricle and mitral annulus was identified, measuring approximately 1 × 3 cm.
Imaging showed increased FDG uptake indicating cardiac metastatic deposits, along with lung and lymph node metastases.
The patient expired two months post-diagnosis, highlighting the aggressive nature of the disease.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Structured PICO

Population

1 38-year-old male with moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and cardiac metastasis

Highlights a rare case of cardiac metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue diagnosed via multimodality imaging.

Abstract

Case: A 38-year-old male presented with ulcero-nodular lesion in left buccal mucosa extending into the tongue. Biopsy revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Screening echocardiogram revealed mass at the junction of basal left ventricle and mitral annulus with infiltration into the base of the posterior mitral leaflet as visualised in apical-four-chamber view (Figure 1A, arrow, Video 1) and parasternal-long-axis view (Figure 1B, arrow, Video 2). This mass was found to be approximately 1 × 3 cm in size, isoechoic, homogenous, freely mobile without a well-defined stalk and with irregular borders. Associated mild mitral regurgitation was also noted. There was no pericardial effusion. X-ray chest (Figure 1C) showed cannon ball secondaries in lungs. Whole body positron emission tomography (PET) scan (Video 3), done as part of metastasis work up, revealed increased fluorodeoxy-glucose (FDG) uptake in the left buccal mucosa extending into the tongue. Increased FDG uptake was also noted in the left ventricle wall towards the basal side infiltrating the base of the posterior mitral leaflet, suggestive of cardiac metastatic deposit (Figure 1D, arrow). In addition, PET scan also showed metastasis involving lungs, mediastinal and cervical lymph nodes, and 8 th rib bilaterally. Squamous cell carcinoma of tongue with cardiac metastasis is a rare occurrence 1,2. Patient expired after 2 months of diagnosis.

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