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Large B-cell lymphoma of the atria
Masoud A Alzeerah1, Rajeev Singh, Ammar Jarrous
1North West Texas Hospital, Amarillo, Texas 79106, USA. malzeerah@hotmail.com
Insights
A rare B-cell lymphoma of the atria caused heart failure in a 65-year-old man. Treatment improved symptoms, but brain metastasis developed six months later.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Cardiac tumors are rare, with lymphoma being an uncommon primary cardiac malignancy.
- Atrial lymphoma can present insidiously, mimicking other conditions.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old male presented with symptoms of obstructive right-heart failure, including shortness of breath, cirrhosis, and ascites.
- Computed tomography revealed a large tumor occupying both atria.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with a large, B-cell lymphoma of the atria.
- Postoperative debulking and chemotherapy led to symptom improvement.
- Six months later, the patient was alive but had developed brain metastasis.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of cardiac masses, especially in patients with atypical presentations.
- Early diagnosis and multimodal treatment are crucial for managing cardiac lymphoma.
- The potential for systemic metastasis, including to the brain, necessitates vigilant follow-up.
Abstract:
We report a case of a large, B-cell lymphoma of the atria in a 65-year-old man who presented with obstructive right-heart failure, shortness of breath, cirrhosis, and ascites. A computed tomographic scan revealed a large cardiac tumor occupying both atria. The patient underwent debulking of the tumor and postoperative chemotherapy. Six months postoperatively he was alive and his symptoms of obstructive right-heart failure had improved; however, he had developed brain metastasis.