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Updated: May 23, 2026
06:15
Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
Published on: March 6, 2019
Bilateral lung lesions: when the eyes deceive the brain!
Alfonso Fiorelli1, Giovanni Vicidomini, Alberto Palladino
1Thoracic Surgery Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Annali Italiani Di Chirurgia
|April 3, 2012
Summary
A rare cardiac angiosarcoma mimicked pulmonary infiltrates, presenting only with a cough. This case highlights the importance of considering cardiac tumors in differential diagnoses, even with seemingly isolated lung findings.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy.
- It can present with diverse and sometimes misleading clinical symptoms.
- Pulmonary involvement is a common manifestation of advanced cardiac tumors.
Observation:
- A patient presented with bilateral pulmonary nodular infiltrates as the primary finding.
- Initial investigations, including CT-guided biopsy, were inconclusive for diagnosis.
- Echocardiography revealed a previously undetected cardiac tumor in the right atrium.
Findings:
- The cardiac tumor was diagnosed as angiosarcoma through pleural biopsy and immunohistochemical staining.
- Immunohistochemistry revealed Vimentin+, CD31+, and CD117+ markers.
- The patient had already developed pulmonary metastases at the time of diagnosis.
Implications:
- This case underscores the diagnostic challenges posed by cardiac angiosarcoma.
- It emphasizes the need for comprehensive cardiac evaluation in cases of unexplained pulmonary lesions.
- Early detection and accurate diagnosis are critical for effective management of cardiac angiosarcoma.
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