Ask:
Hodgkins Lymphoma
My 35 year old partner was treated for Hodgkins Lymphoma 3 years ago and had recently suffered a cardiac arrest. I have been told by several people after his death that the scar tissue left over from the tumor in his chest may have been growing, is this possible? I thought that scar tissue was "dead" tissue.
You may also be able to help me with the explanation of some medical terms in his report:
Acute Myocardial Ischaemia
&
Coronary Artery Stenotic Atherosclerosis
He had an Ecocardiogram?? about 18 months ago and was also put on a heart monitor for 24 hrs when he was getting dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears and chest & arm pains, but these were dianosed as Menieres Disease and Oesophagal spasms (excuse my spelling). We also discovered that he was bicuspid of the heart but otherwise had a very healthy heart.
The terms used on the report suggest a thickening of the artery or a blockage of some sort. I suppose my other question is 'How did we miss this?'
Did this condition develop in 18 months or has it been ongoing?
I am not asking for gospel, anything you could tell me that might help explain things would be a great help. if you need any more information i will gladly supply it if i can.
Answer:
Hodgkins Lymphoma
Dear Alison,
Please understand that I am speaking in general terms, and I cannot specifically comment on your partners illness because I don't have all the necessary information.
The first question is impossible to answer, since the answer depends on the definition of he terms used. "Scar" tissue can grow but it a case somewhat similar to your partners, it usually does not. If it does, a "real" neoplastinc tumor, in this case activation of Lymphoma, is suspected. Why do you think that the scar tissue has been growing? Do you or "several people" think it may have caused the cardiac arrest?
Here we come to your second question: the medical terms mean sudden lack of oxygen in the heart muscle (caused by) narrowing of the vessels which supply blood (and oxygen) into the heart (caused by atherosclerosis). Are these terms from the autopsy report or is the cause of death just a "clinical" diagnosis?
The condition of clinically significant narrowing of coronary vessels is rare in a 35 year old person and usually require underlaying cause, for example heavy genetic predisposing, diabetes or severely elevated blood cholesterol. It usually does not develop in just 18 months. It is possible, that his previous symptoms were, after all, caused by his heart - especially if there is a reason to believe the cause of his death was, in fact, acute myocardial ischaemia. Then again, sometimes even the best medical exams can't show all there is to know and can't prevent the worst from happening - no matter how "right" the interpretation of the results of the examps has been.
Your partners own doctor, however, will be much better prepared to answer these same questions. He has the knowledge you and me are lacking. So please, consult him.
Hope this helps.
Dr. Sinuhe