Angiosarcoma of the right ventricle: a rare encounter

International Journal of Cardiology, 2013

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology, 2016

American Journal of Cardiology, 1968

CASE, 2019

Anadolu Kardiyoloji Dergisi/The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology, 2012

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 2011

Variant (Prinzmetal's) angina pectoris is a clinical syndrome characterized by the presence of angina at rest, coinciding with a transient ST-segment elevation. This syndrome is often caused by vasospasm, either on a normal coronary artery or at the site of a coronary atherosclerotic stenosis. We describe a classic case of variant angina associated with an angiosarcoma of the right heart chambers.

Cureus

Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm and occurs most frequently in middle-aged males. It has an aggressive nature, with highly variable clinical features, which results in delayed diagnosis and high mortality. We report a 19-year-old man presented to the ED with a three-month history of hemoptysis and one-week history of anterior chest pain. Additionally, an aortic diastolic murmur grade II/VI was found on physical examination. Thoracic CT scan revealed bilateral dispersed hypodense pulmonary nodes with peripheral halo, alveolar densification, and pericardial effusion. The transthoracic echocardiogram confirmed sizeable pericardial effusion and bicuspid aortic valve, without other significant findings. A pericardiocentesis removed 1300 mL of hemorrhagic fluid, consistent with an exudate without malignant cells. Both cardiac magnetic resonance and transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a large mass on the right atrium's anterior wall. Mass biopsy was performed, revealing malignant cardiac angiosarcoma. The biopsy of the lung lesions was compatible with lung metastasis of primary cardiac angiosarcoma. The patient was submitted to palliative chemotherapy but died 12 months after the diagnosis.

Autopsy and Case Reports, 2014

Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare entity. The incidence through autopsy findings ranges between 0.001% and 0.03%. The disease usually presents with non-specific symptoms, although asymptomatic cases are frequent; therefore, diagnosis is unexpected and consequently delayed. The authors report the case of a middle-aged man with a recent onset cough and dyspnea. He sought medical care several times without receiving a definite diagnosis until a plain chest radiography was taken showing a mediastinal enlargement, which was the reason why he was hospitalized for clinical investigation. During the diagnostic workup, an echodopplercardiogram and a thoracic computed tomography were performed, showing a heterogeneous soft-tissue mass infiltrating the pericardium and the anterior atrial wall. Multiple and scattered pulmonary nodules were also present. A pulmonary nodule was biopsied, which revealed an angiosarcoma. The clinical features added to the radiological and histological findings permitted the diagnosis of right atrial angiosarcoma. The authors highlight the unexpected pattern in the presentation of cardiac tumors.

Journal of The American Society of Echocardiography, 1996

Angiosarcoma of the heart is a rare tumor. This turnor is most frequently located in the right atrium and pericardium. Localization of a tumor in the interatrial septum usually suggests atrial myxoma. We report two cases of angiosarcoma originating from the interatrial septum, one extending into the right atrium and the other into the left atrium, mimicking atrial myxomas. Transesophageal echocardiography allowed the diagnosis and comprehensive assessment of compromised structures. (J AM Soc ECHOCARDIOGR 1996;9:209-12.) _lUrimary tumors of the heart and pericardium arc rare. t Angiosarcoma is the most common primary malignant cardiac tumor.i This tumor is found more commonly in the right atrium and pericardium. ~'3 Angiosarcoma of the interatrial septum is rarely found and may clinically and echocardiographically mimick atrial myxomas. <s Early differential diagnosis of these tumors is important regarding prognosis and treatment. We report two cases of angiosarcoma originating from the interatrial septum, mimicldng atrial myxomas, in which the diagnosis and determination of involved structures were done by transesophageal echocardiography.

World Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2007

Background: Primary cardiac neoplasms occur rarely and most of them are benign. Malignant tumors including angiosarcoma are extremely rare and have a non specific clinical presentation and a poor prognosis. Case presentation: We present a case of a young male who was transferred to our hospital because of shock and multiple organ failure after a complicated pericardial biopsy. During the previous seven months he presented with recurrent episodes of pericardial effusions and tamponade. Chest computed tomography revealed a mass in the right atrium, infiltrating the myocardium and pericardium. During emergency surgery that followed, the patient died because of uncontrolled hemorrhage. Autopsy revealed the mass of the right atrium, which was identified on histological examination as primary cardiac angiosarcoma. Conclusion: This case highlights the difficulties both in early diagnosis and in the management of patients with cardiac angiosarcoma.