RESUMO
Background: While most cases of venous thromboembolism follow a benign course, occasionally the condition may manifest a complex clinical presentation and need a comprehensive diagnostic workup to identify the underlying cause and provide the patient with appropriate treatment. Case presentation: A woman in her late thirties presented to the emergency department with a five-day history of dyspnoea. She had recently undergone liposuction surgery after pregnancy. Upon admission, initial investigations revealed a pulmonary embolism with right heart strain, and she was treated with anticoagulants. The following day, she complained of acute-onset right flank pain without fever or other accompanying symptoms. A CT scan of the abdomen confirmed a right-side renal infarction. Further investigations revealed patent foramen ovale between the right and left atria of the heart, believed to be the source of a right-to-left shunt of arterial emboli. Although the patient had not suffered a clinical stroke, it was decided to close this defect using percutaneous technique. Interpretation: Patent foramen ovale is a common condition in adults, but in most cases it remains asymptomatic. However, patients with patent foramen ovale have an elevated risk of arterial emboli affecting multiple organs. The diagnosis depends on thorough assessment to prevent potentially fatal outcomes.
Assuntos
Abdominoplastia , Dispneia , Forame Oval Patente , Embolia Pulmonar , Humanos , Feminino , Adulto , Forame Oval Patente/complicações , Forame Oval Patente/cirurgia , Forame Oval Patente/diagnóstico por imagem , Dispneia/etiologia , Abdominoplastia/efeitos adversos , Embolia Pulmonar/etiologia , Embolia Pulmonar/diagnóstico por imagem , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Infarto/etiologia , Infarto/diagnóstico por imagem , Infarto/diagnóstico , Infarto/cirurgia , Complicações Pós-OperatóriasRESUMO
An ageing population as well as improved diagnostics, monitoring and treatment mean that an increasing incidence of brain metastases can be expected. Patients with brain metastases were previously regarded as a homogenous group with a very poor prognosis. However, the current picture is more complex. The development of new treatment methods, better molecular understanding and personalised medicine require a focus on multidisciplinary collaboration to provide optimal treatment for individual patients. This clinical review article provides an overview of important factors related to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with brain metastases.