Cardiac metastasis from a squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue presenting with symptoms of endocarditis: a case report.

Mouth cancer (also known as oral squamous cell carcinoma can spread to other areas of the body, including the heart ­ this is referred to as cardiac metastases. Although cardiac metastases is rare, it can change the surgical plan and prognosis of the disease. A young woman with a prior history of tongue squamous cell carcinoma was admitted with what was believed to be an infection of the inner surface of the heart, this is also known as infective endocarditis. However, a technique used to assess the function and structure of the cardiovascular system inside the heart called cardiac MRI, showed that the cancer had spread to multiple areas of the heart. With this knowledge the patient was managed conservatively but passed away 1 month later.