Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Presenting as Acute Heart Failure and Hypereosinophilia

Hypereosinophilia is a serum eosinophil count of over 1,500 eosinophils/µL. It is an uncommon laboratory finding, and it can be asymptomatic or associated with organ damage, in which case it is referred to as hypereosinophilic syndrome. It can be primary, when the expansion of eosinophils occurs in the setting of a hematological neoplasm, or secondary, when it is caused by an external stimulus, such as a parasitic infection or a solid neoplasm. We present a case of hypereosinophilia diagnosed in a patient presenting with acute heart failure initially attributed to coronary disease and alcohol consumption. Due to persisting eosinophilia with no apparent cause, eventually reaching more than 41,000 eosinophils/µL, a full-body scan was performed, showing the presence of a peri-hilar mass partially obstructing the left main bronchus and multiple lesions in the liver and thoracic vertebrae. The liver biopsy revealed metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma. Around the time the biopsy was performed, the patient began complaining of new-onset chest paint, and the diagnoses of pulmonary embolism and later lung abscess were made, the reasons why he had no conditions to begin chemotherapy. The medical condition of the patient deteriorated in the next few days, and the patient died six months after the initial diagnosis of hypereosinophilia.