Abstract
Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a well-described pathological condition caused by hypercoagulability due to an inflammatory state including malignancy. While NBTE causes vegetation on heart valves and induces life-threatening systemic thromboembolism, valvular dysfunction is rarely considered as an indication for surgery. Therapy for NBTE consists of systemic anticoagulation and the control of underlying disease. Here, we describe a patient with a perivalvular abscess that might have been induced by NBTE from an abdominal tumor. A two-stage operation was scheduled for the tumor. After the cardiac valve operation, the patient was in a temporary lull, but died from disseminated intravascular coagulation. We missed the opportunity to perform surgical intervention of the abdominal mass. NBTE may be the background in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis (IE). In order to choose an appropriate multidisciplinary treatment, the clinical features of NBTE should be considered when treating a patient with NBTE accompanied by chronic inflammatory process.
