Right atrial mass presenting as cardiac tamponade

Intracavitary tumors such as angiosarcomas are prone to embolize, and occlude valves and vessels. Intramyocardial tumors cause cardiac failure and arrhythmias. Pericardial tumors cause effusions which result in tamponade. It is very rare that an intracavitary tumor presents itself with a cardiac tamponade. A 32-year old woman presented to the emergency room with palpitation and shortness of breath. Her physical examination revealed pulsus paradoxus and jugular venous distention. The transthoracic echocardiography showed normal left ventricular function, and an intracavitary right atrial mass. As the patients clinical status deteriorated an emergency operation was performed. The hemorrhagic pericardial fluid was cytologically positive for malignant cells. Histopathological findings were indicative of an angiosarcoma.