Hodgkins Lymphoma

[Alison]

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.

[Dr. Sinuhe]

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

[Alison]

Thankyou again for your information Dr. Sinuhe and yes I understand that it is general information. There are a lot of issues surrounding Scotts death that are still unknown to me. I do refer to "several" people as in other than myself because I know that Scott was on the mend after his Chemotherapy and was in good health. His heart scans 18 months ago were all clear and we were not made aware by his oncologist that any scar tissue would grow, which I think thay would have mentioned. So no I am not of that belief but am unable to see our regular GP at the moment due to distance.

I believe that the diagnoses that I listed previously are the "clinical" one's for we have not recieved an Autopsy report as yet. But even your description of the terms use as shed some light for me.

There are so many things that are yet unknown about why and how it happened and it is frustrating having to wait to find out.

Again I thank you for taking the time to respond to my letter and thankyou for shedding some light for me.

Kind Regards
Alison