Cardiac angiosarcoma

doi:10.1016/j.carpath.2005.06.006

Cardiovascular Pathology

Volume 15, Issue 1, January–February 2006, Pages 57-58

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpath.2005.06.006 Get rights and content

Abstract

Primary tumors of the heart are extremely rare, with a prevalence rate of around 0.01% in collective autopsy studies. Majority of the primary cardiac tumors are benign. Myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor, while angiosarcoma is the commonest primary malignant tumor. We present a case report of a 20-year-old patient with history of breathlessness and hemoptysis. A malignant mass was seen arising in the right atrium, with pericardial effusion and multiple metastases in the lung. A complete autopsy was performed and a diagnosis of cardiac angiosarcoma was confirmed on histology and immunohistochemistry.

References (7)

HA McAllister
Primary tumors of the heart and pericardium
Curr Probl Cardiol
(1979)
AP Burke et al.
Tumors and tumor-like conditions of the heart
A Otahara et al.
Cardiac angiosarcoma
Int Med
(1996)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (28)

Inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma with right atrium tumorous mass presenting as heart failure in a 70-year-old man: A case report
2016, Cor et Vasa
Primary tumors of the heart and the inferior vena cava are relatively rare. The incidence of the former is 0.001–0.030%, while the frequency of metastatic tumors is 20–40 times higher. Out of the total number of primary cardiac tumors recorded, only about 10% are malignant, and a similar statement can be made about the inferior vena cava, i.e. most of these tumors are of secondary origin.
This paper reports the case of a Caucasian male, aged 70, with a recent history of visiting equatorial Africa, who was originally admitted for dyspnea due to cardiac failure, and was subsequently diagnosed with expansion in the region of the inferior vena cava and the right atrium. Due to a presumed thrombus, anticoagulative treatment was initiated. As the hemodynamic condition of the patient deteriorated further, predominantly in terms of right-sided heart failure, a surgical excision of the tumorous mass had to be performed. Despite the surgery, the patient died as a result of refractory right-sided heart failure.
The discussion herein contains an analysis of the incidence of and current treatment options for primary tumors of the inferior vena cava and the heart, including prognosis, based on up-to-date literature.
Primary cardiac angiosarcoma treated by complete tumor resection with cardiac reconstruction
2011, Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical Care
Citation Excerpt :
Pericardial fluid cytology is positive in 75% to 87% of patients.1-3 The prognosis of cardiac angiosarcoma is poor with a median survival ranging from 6 to 11 months.1-3 The current established treatment of cardiac sarcoma is limited to surgical resection.6,7
Primary cardiac sarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm, with an incidence of .0001% in collected autopsy series. Angiosarcoma is the most common cardiac sarcoma and is present in up to 33% of the cases that are associated with a poor prognosis. Because angiosarcoma is essentially not responsive to current regimens of chemotherapy and irradiation, early complete resection is recommended as the treatment choice. However, complete resection is difficult because of the limited amount of myocardium and expansion of the tumor at the time of diagnosis. We report a case of right atrial angiosarcoma treated by complete tumor resection with cardiac reconstruction with a bovine pericardium patch.
Cardiac angiosarcoma: a case report and review of the literature
2010, Cardiovascular Pathology
Pulmonary metastasis in a cardiac angiosarcoma - Case report and discussion
2009, Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia
Apresenta-se um caso clínico referente a doente de 35 anos, do sexo masculino sem antecedentes pessoais relevantes, admitido no serviço de urgência por quadro de toracalgia e tosse produtiva com alterações electrocardiográficas sugestivas de pericardite. Inicialmente admitido pelo Serviço de Cardiologia, com melhoria do quadro clínico após terapêutica anti-inflamatória; contudo, no internamento houve como intercorrência pneumonia de provável etiologia bacteriana, complicada por derrame pleural. Após a alta, foi referenciado à consulta de pneumologia, onde se manteve o estudo etiológico do derrame persistente, tendo vindo a complicar-se o seu quadro com alterações das cavidades cardiacas e múltiplos nódulos pulmonares, sugestivos de endocardite subaguda com embolização séptica pulmonar. Internado no serviço de Pneumologia e submetido a videotoracoscopia, foi-lhe diagnosticado angiossarcoma cardíaco com metastização pulmonar. Assistiu-se a uma rápida evolução do quadro clínico, quase fulminante, com falência cardíaca e óbito do doente sem ter iniciado radioterapia ou quimioterapia adjuvante.
Rev Port Pneumol 2009; XV (6): 1175-1184
We present a case report of a 35 year-old male without any relevant former pathology admitted to the emergency room with atypical chest pain, cough and sputum with ECG changes suggesting pericarditis. He was initially admitted to the cardiology ward and experienced clinical improvement after initiating anti-inflammatory treatment. As intercurrence he had bacterial origin pneumonia complicated by pleural effusion (PE). After discharge patient was referred to a pulmonology appointment where aetiological investigation of the PE was instigated. Investigation revealed changes in the cardiac cavities and multiple lung nodules, suggesting subacute endocarditis with septic pulmonary embolism. Admitted to the pulmonology unit patient underwent videothoracsopy which diagnosed cardiac angiosarcoma with pulmonary metastisation. Within a few days there was a rapid evolution of the clinical picture, with cardiac failure and death of the patient without radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy being started.
Rev Port Pneumol 2009; XV (6): 1175-1184
Left atrial angiosarcoma: A rare cardiac tumor at an uncommon site
2020, Journal of Cardiovascular Echography
Primary Cardiac Angiosarcoma: Authors' Perspective Following Synthesis of Available Literature
2019, Rehabilitation Oncology

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Images in Cardiovascular PathologyCardiac angiosarcoma

Abstract

Curr Probl Cardiol

Tumors and tumor-like conditions of the heart

Cardiac angiosarcoma

Int Med

Images in Cardiovascular Pathology
Cardiac angiosarcoma