Facial Drooping, Aphasia, and an Incidental Lung Mass in a Nonsmoker

J Intensive Care Med. 2017 Mar;32(3):228-230. doi: 10.1177/0885066616676044. Epub 2016 Oct 26.

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are atrial tachycardias associated with embolic strokes. To date, there have only been a few reports highlighting the incidence of these atrial tachycardias due to mechanical compression of myocardial structures and the pulmonary vasculature in certain mediastinal masses and cysts.

Case: We present a case of a 75-year-old gentleman who is a nonsmoker with a history of hypertension who presents with an acute embolic stroke due to atrial flutter likely from mechanical compression from an underlying squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Conclusion: This case represents, to the best of our knowledge, a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung in a nonsmoker likely leading to mechanical compression and a resultant atrial tachycardia with an embolic stroke.

Keywords: atrial flutter; embolic stroke; squamous cell lung carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Air Pollutants, Occupational / adverse effects*
  • Anticoagulants / administration & dosage
  • Aphasia / etiology
  • Atrial Flutter / etiology
  • Atrial Flutter / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / complications
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / physiopathology
  • Electric Countershock / methods
  • Enoxaparin / administration & dosage
  • Facial Paralysis / etiology
  • Humans
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Stroke / diagnosis*
  • Stroke / physiopathology
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / adverse effects*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Air Pollutants, Occupational
  • Anticoagulants
  • Enoxaparin
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution